Department for Transport

Aviation: Egypt

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the announcement of the recommencement of flights from Milan to Sharm-el-Sheikh, whether he will reconsider the ban on flights from the UK.

Jesse Norman: It is for each country to define what security requirements it may need to protect its citizens.The UK Government continues to work closely with Egypt, including on the sharing of aviation security expertise. However, it is longstanding Government policy not to comment on specific security arrangements.

Blue Badge Scheme

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme to protect legitimate Blue Badge-holders.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport has taken a number of steps, including: making it easier to withdraw a badge for reasons of misuse; providing local authorities with powers to seize badges on-street; introducing fraud resistant badges; and establishing a single national database of all badges that can be accessed by on-street enforcement officers to identify genuine badge holders. The Department is also working with local authorities to share examples of best practice enforcement measures.

Brittany Ferries and DFDS

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Brittany Ferries and (b) DFDS on ensuring employment standards for seafarers when creating additional roll-on roll-off freight capacity at ports.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 14 January. [UIN 205908].

Brittany Ferries and DFDS

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what time period the contracts between his Department and (a) Brittany Ferries and (b) DFDS for additional roll-on roll-off freight capacity cover.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Agreements with both ferry operators are currently for the provision of services from 29th March 2019 until 30th September 2019.

Channel Ferries: Frieght

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to secure additional roll-on roll-off freight capacity to replace capacity planned to be provided through his Department's contract with Seaborne Freight.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Extensive work has been undertaken across Government with a range of key sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry, to understand their needs and ensure that supplies of critical goods, including pharmaceuticals, continue in any scenario.At present, we believe that the capacity we have secured is sufficient to meet this objective.

Offshore Suppliers

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the number of offshore supply vessels laid up in UK ports in each year since 2014.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Shipowners are not required by law to notify the Port State Authority (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) of a vessel that has been laid up in the UK although it is considered good practice.However, where information is notified to the Authority it will be to the local regional offices and is not collated nor could it be considered comprehensive and therefore it is not possible to make any assessment.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s vision remains to have one of the best electric vehicle chargepoint networks in the world. Current grant funding schemes support chargepoint infrastructure at homes, workplaces and on residential streets. Alongside this, the £400m public-private Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will see thousands more chargepoints installed across the UK.Overall, the Government’s Road to Zero strategy, published in July 2018, included a number of new commitments to expand electric and low emission vehicle infrastructure across the country. The Department will be launching a consultation shortly on the proposal for chargepoints to be installed in all new-build homes in England, where appropriate, and it is also looking at how all new lampposts can include charging infrastructure.The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act gives the Government powers to require the installation of chargepoints at motorway service areas, and to set reliability and maintenance standards for public chargepoints. We will monitor market developments and consider using these powers if the market does not deliver.

Railways: Franchises

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the revenue implications for his Department of requiring rail franchisees to provide part-time season tickets; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require rail franchisees to provide part-time season tickets.

Andrew Jones: Several existing franchises have commitments to develop part time seasons as part of their franchise, and the revenue implications for this would have been considered as part of the net premia or subsidy bid for the franchise overall. In addition, the Secretary of State requires bidders for rail franchises to propose initiatives that give customers who travel less than 5 days a week a better value-for-money option. These proposals are then contracted into the respective Franchise Agreements to offer a product or products in addition to existing season tickets. We continue to challenge the rail industry to develop proposals for pricing and delivering more flexible ticketing options for those who work or commute part-time.

Airports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on UK airports.

Chris Grayling: Leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. The Government has accelerated no deal preparations to ensure the country is prepared for every eventuality. It is the responsible thing to do. The EU has adopted a Regulation, giving UK airlines the rights to fly to and from the EU for 12 months in a no deal scenario, and the UK Government will provide at least equivalent rights to EU airlines. UK airports will continue under the same aviation security regime as they do now. The Government works closely with the aviation sector, including UK airports, and will continue to do so.

Railways: North of England

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits for the North of England of (a) electrifying the Trans-Pennine line and (b) upgrading but not electrifying that line.

Andrew Jones: The department has undertaken an assessment of the benefits of a range of potential investments in the route. Within the £2.9bn available in this control period, this work has enabled us to direct funding to the interventions whereit will deliver the best value to customers including the provision of more capacity and greater reliability. It is planned that electrification will take place on the busiest sections into Leeds and Manchester.

Electric Vehicles: Taxis

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the number of electric taxi and private hire vehicles to improve air quality in cities.

Jesse Norman: The Department's Transport Energy Model, which was published alongside the Road to Zero Strategy in 2018, clearly shows the environmental benefits of switching to ultra low emission vehicles, including ULEV taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs). The Government has accordingly provided £50m of funding for the Plug-in Taxi Grant Scheme, which offers a discount on the price of eligible taxis of up to £7,500.In February 2019 the Department announced that 17 local authorities had been awarded a total of £6.89m through the second round of the Ultra-Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Competition. The funding enables Local Authorities to install chargepoint infrastructure dedicated to ultra-low emission taxis, and comes in addition to the £14m awarded in the first round of the scheme to 10 local authorities.The Plug-in Car Grant provides up to £3,500 towards eligible ultra low emission cars, including for PHVs. Both taxi and PHV drivers may also be eligible for a grant of up to £500 under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, for the installation of a domestic chargepoint.

Railways: Standards

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which of the rail improvement projects proposed by Network Rail’s East Coast Main Line Route Study will be prioritised for investment; and how those projects will be funded.

Andrew Jones: We have already announced that we will invest up to £780m to deliver upgrades to the East Coast Main Line by the early 2020s. This is on top of the £400m invested since 2014 in power upgrades between London and Doncaster and infrastructure improvements elsewhere across the route. The Department is working with stakeholders, including Transport for the North, to identify and assess further potential enhancements for the East Coast Main Line. We will take staged decisions to progress further enhancements through the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline process.

East Coast Railway Line: Standards

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) performance and (b) passenger satisfaction figures for the East Coast Main Line; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Performance and passenger satisfaction for each train operator are continually assessed under the terms of their separate Agreements with the Secretary of State for Passenger Services on the East Coast Main Line. That said, for information, the latest overall passenger satisfaction figures for franchised operators who operate on the ECML are below (taken from the Autumn 2018 National Rail Passenger Survey published by Transport Focus): CrossCountry 81%Great Northern 68%London North Eastern Railway 87%Northern 72%ScotRail (managed by Transport Scotland) 79%Thameslink 77%Transpennine Express 73%

East Coast Railway Line: Standards

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons Network Rail accounted for 60 per cent of delays to East Coast Main Line services in the year to February 2019.

Andrew Jones: We do not hold the information on reasons for Network Rail accounted delays to East Coast Main Line services.

East Coast Railway Line: Trains

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the new Azuma trains will not be operational on the East Coast Main Line other than between London and Leeds from May 2019.

Andrew Jones: As part of the Intercity Express Programme, the rollout of the new Azuma trains will be introduced along the whole of the East Coast Main Line in phases to reflect the 15 month train delivery schedule. The first phase of which will be in service between London – Leeds and London – Hull. LNER will announce dates for further service rollouts throughout the year.

East Coast Railway Line

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on (a) the work of (b) decisions taken by and (c) the membership of the East Coast Partnership; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Government’s Strategic Vision for Rail, published on 29 November 2017, set out the Government’s intention to introduce the East Coast Partnership (ECP) on the East Coast Main Line. In May 2018 the Secretary of State announced the establishment of a Partnership Board to develop proposals for the East Coast Partnership, bringing together the operation of track and train under a single leader.The Partnership Board is chaired by Tony Poulter, a non-executive Director at the Department for Transport, and has members from Network Rail the intercity operator team, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), the Department for Transport and independent members to ensure the interests of other operators on the route are considered. The board has been developing the options for delivering the East Coast Partnership, which will be aligned with Williams Rail Review.

Driving: Autism

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consultation process prior to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) decision that drivers must disclose if they have an autistic spectrum disorder.

Jesse Norman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) formulates its guidance for drivers with medical conditions, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), in conjunction with the relevant honorary medical advisory panel. In this instance, an attempt by the DVLA to clarify the guidance caused confusion and concern. The advice for both drivers and medical professionals has now been amended to make clear that a driver who has an ASD only needs to tell the DVLA if the condition could affect their driving.The DVLA has undertaken to engage fully with relevant stakeholders and the appropriate honorary medical advisory panel over the guidance for drivers with ASD.

Birmingham Airport

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government's policy is on the future expansion of Birmingham Airport.

Jesse Norman: The Government is already supportive of airports beyond Heathrow making best use of their existing runways, provided that economic and environmental issues are addressed; and it specifically welcomes the ambition of UK airports which are responding to local demands and investing in their infrastructure and facilities. However, it is for airports’ owners and operators to make investment decisions.The Government is currently consulting on its new Aviation Strategy. This sets out a long-term vision for aviation to 2050 and beyond, which emphasises the significance of aviation to regional growth and the UK economy.

Motorways: Accidents

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when two motorways serving similar areas are disrupted by accidents, what steps are taken to ensure that (a) concurrent closures do not take place and (b) alternative routes are advertised beforehand; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: When incidents take place on the Strategic Road Network (SRN), Highways England do everything possible to restore normal operations on the network and get traffic flowing as quickly and safely as possible. CLEAR (Collision, Lead, Evaluate, Act and Reopen), is a joint initiative between Highways England, the DfT and other partners, including the Home Office and emergency services, to minimise the disruption caused by incidents and motorway closures.When two motorways serving similar areas are disrupted by incidents, Highways England use a variety of tools to assess the impact and delays which each incident has had on the network and on Local Authority roads, in order to provide advanced warning to road users and suggest alternative routes.

M40: Closures

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the M40 motorway was closed northbound on 11 March 2019; what efforts were made to avoid and minimise that closure; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The M40 northbound carriageway was closed between junctions 13 and 14 on 11 March following a collision between two cars and an HGV at approximately 14:47. Lane 3 of the southbound carriageway was also closed, for safety reasons, as the HGV struck the central reservation barrier causing damage over a length of approximately 80 metres.Congestion caused tailbacks for several miles and traffic was diverted via the A452 while the emergency services attended to an injured person, and recovery services removed the damaged vehicles.Once police investigations were complete, the vehicles recovered and the road cleared of debris, Highways England opened two lanes of the northbound carriageway at approximately 17:15.Lane 3 remained closed on both carriageways to allow Highways England to repair the 80 metres of central reservation barrier overnight. Once complete, the northbound and southbound carriageways fully re-opened at approximately 03:47.

Cycling and Walking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Local Government Association on encouraging councils to use City Region Deals to increase access to cycling and walking routes.

Jesse Norman: The Department made clear, in its 2018 response to the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy Safety Review, that local councils should invest around 15 per cent of their local transport infrastructure funding on safe and efficient cycling and walking infrastructure. The Department continues to encourage local authorities to make use of the Transforming Cities Fund and other relevant national funding streams to support cycling and walking schemes and engages regularly with them in the development of their LCWIPs (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans). Departmental officials have had discussions from time to time with representatives from the Local Government Association to discuss local authorities’ support for cycling and walking.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Consultation

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many consultations by his Department (a) are open, (b) are closed awaiting a Government response and (c) have been initiated since 2016.

Richard Harrington: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) currently has 6 open consultations.20 consultations are closed awaiting a Government response.Since its inception in July 2016, BEIS has initiated 100 consultations on GOV.UK.

Drugs: Research

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the  August 2017 Life sciences: industrial strategy report, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the process of translating academic discovery into industry drug development in (a) immunology, (b) genomics and (c) other areas where the UK is world-leading.

Chris Skidmore: The sector’s Life Science Industrial Strategy, authored by Professor Sir John Bell, made recommendations to government in support of the vision for the UK to be a global hub that makes the UK the home of clinical research and medical innovation. The two Life Sciences Sector Deals are collaborative endeavours across government, academia, charities and industry to deliver on this bold vision.The two Deals include significant joint investment from government and the sector to support research and development, both academic and commercial, to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global drug development.The UK has a track record of supporting university spin out companies, with the goal of translating innovative research into commercial successes and ultimately treatments that will benefit patients. Catalyst programmes, including Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council’s Biomedical Catalyst aim to de-risk innovative science and commercialise ideas arising out of academia and industry, helping UK SMEs to develop into competitive and sustainable organisations.The Government recently announced further support for genomics as part of my rt. hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spring Statement. The announcement featured a £45 million investment for increasing the European Bioinformatics Institute’s computing and storage capacity which underpins much of the UK’s genomics research work, including UK Biobank. This announcement supports the boosting the UK’s genomics sector, which is a key commitment in our second Life Sciences Sector Deal.

Research: Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,  what estimate he has made of the amount of funding as a percentage of GDP that was allocated to research and development by (a) Government, (b) public sector organisations excluding local authorities and (c)the  private sector in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 18 March 2019



The figures below are based those on the ONS release “Gross domestic expenditure on research and development, UK: 2017” 20102011201220132014201520162017TOTAL31.61%1.65%1.58%1.61%1.63%1.65%1.67%1.69%Government0.19%0.18%0.17%0.20%0.19%0.19%0.18%0.18%Research Councils0.18%0.18%0.16%0.16%0.16%0.15%0.15%0.15%Higher Education Funding Councils0.14%0.14%0.13%0.13%0.12%0.12%0.11%0.11%Business Enterprise 30.71%0.75%0.74%0.74%0.77%0.82%0.88%0.91%Higher Education 1, 40.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.01%0.01%0.01%Private Non-Profit 20.08%0.08%0.08%0.08%0.08%0.08%0.08%0.09%Overseas0.30%0.31%0.30%0.30%0.30%0.28%0.26%0.24% 1 Following further quality assurance of the flow of funding within the higher education sector it was decided to remove the element relating to funding between higher education establishments. 2 Prior to 2011 PNP data were estimated. From 2011 data has been collected from a biennial survey with non-survey years being estimated using data from survey years. 3 Estimates of launch investment loan repayments received by government from business have been removed following a review of how these payments should be reported. These loan repayments are in relation to loans given out in previous years and therefore should not be included in current totals of R&D expenditure. The total of loan repayments have been removed from the total funding by business and the UK total for 2013, and 2015, there were no repayments in 2014. In current prices the values removed were 2013 (£212 million) and 2015 (£112 million). 4 New higher education financial reporting standards starting on or after 1 January 2015 have resulted in significant changes in how financial performance is reported. This presents difficulties in comparing results from 2015 onwards with historical trends.  Please Note: Differences may occur between totals and the sum of their independently rounded components.

WH Smith: Post Offices

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what equality impact assessment has been undertaken on the franchising of 74 crown post offices to WHSmith announced in October 2018.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Consultants

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many consultants his Department has hired since 2016; and what the cost of that hiring was to the public purse.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row four of the table on page 35 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish the other programmes with their respective budgets referred to in that table.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row three of the table on page 35 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a detailed breakdown under the heading Business and Enterprise.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: British Shipbuilders

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row five of the table on page 35 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, what the spending under British Shipbuilders relates to.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row 10 of the table on page 35 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a description of spending under the heading Better Regulation.

Richard Harrington: The breakdown of expenditure included under Better Regulation Resource DEL is as shown in the following table: -  £mOffice for Product Safety and Standards5.0Better Regulation Executive3.4Total (Better Regulation)8.4

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row 11 of the table on page 35 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a breakdown of spending under the heading Market Frameworks.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row 24 of the table on page 36 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a list of all programmes funded under the heading Capability including those under Other Programmes.

Richard Harrington: The programmes included under Capability Resource DEL are as follows: -Assurance Reviews and PPM CapabilityCentrally held/unallocated Programme budget including Invest to SaveCommunicationsCompensations Payments ProgrammeConstruction: Statistics and Other Sponsorship ActivitiesCore BEIS Administration costsDepartmental SecurityStaff Exit ProvisionEstatesEnergy ResilienceEnergy Statistics Research & AnalysisFinanceIncome from Other Government Departments and Devolved Administrations for the Committee on Climate ChangeLegal

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row three of the table on page 39 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a breakdown of spending under the heading Business and Enterprise.

Richard Harrington: The breakdown of expenditure included under Business and Enterprise Capital DEL is as shown in the following table: -  £mAdvanced Propulsion Centre8.7Aerospace Technology Institute2.5Stoke City Deal1.4European Transonic Windtunnel0.5Total (Business and Enterprise)13.1

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row nine of the table on page 39 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a breakdown of spending on Launch Investments.

Richard Harrington: The £157.3m credit shown under Launch Investments Capital DEL is the estimated income due to be paid to BEIS in the 2018-19 financial year from its various Repayable Launch Investment contracts. These investments were to enable the design and development of new civil aerospace products. These are long-term investments where income is received, in some cases, over several decades. Since 2000, we have invested over £1 billion and have received £2.1 billion in levies or royalties due from products sold. We cannot provide a breakdown of the individual investments, as the details are commercially confidential between the parties. The current portfolio has a future income valued at £1.047 billion as of 31 March 2018 (HC 1214 - BEIS Annual report and accounts 2017/18 page 174).

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row 9 of the table on page 40 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, what the Research Capital Investment Fund is.

Richard Harrington: The Allocation of Science and Research Funding 2016/17-2019/20* confirmed that a specific allocation of Science Capital would be made each year through the period to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland administrations for distribution to Higher Education Institutions across the UK, to be matched by each of the Devolved Administrations. This is in addition to science capital funding allocated for distribution to HE providers in England. The purpose of this funding is for capital investment in the physical infrastructure for research which helps to maintain excellent departments in HE providers across the UK with the critical mass to compete globally and the expertise to work closely with business, charities and public services. It is allocated and distributed by reference to the research income earned from Research Councils. *https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505308/bis-16-160-allocation-science-research-funding-2016-17-2019-20.pdf

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Public Expenditure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to row 14 of the table on page 40 of the BEIS 2018-19 Main Estimate Memorandum, if he will publish a breakdown of spending under the heading Research Base and Science Contingency.

Richard Harrington: The breakdown of expenditure included under Research Base and Science Contingency Capital DEL is as shown in the following table: -  £mGlobal Challenges Research Fund31.4Newton fund23.2Rutherford Fund6.8Academy of Medical Sciences3.8Foresight2.6Global Science Innovation and Education1.7Research Base initiatives0.5Global Partnership Fund0.2Reserved for new National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) funds306.8Total (Research Base and Science Contingency)377.2**Table does not add up due to rounding

Parental Pay

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has plans to implement shared parental pay and paternity pay as a right for all employees from their first day of employment.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

China: Foreign Trade

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on that country's potential involvement with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​The UK Government has discussed Italy’s potential involvement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative at official level with Italian counterparts. As part of our future relationship, the UK is committed to working closely with Italy and other international partners on China.

Kazakhstan: Politics and Government

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with the Government of Kazakhstan on the recent political transition in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​President Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned as President of Kazakhstan on 19 March. The Speaker of the Upper House, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was sworn in as his successor the following day, in accordance with the constitution. The Foreign Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to discuss the change in leadership with the Government of Kazakhstan. However, I have been in contact with Kazakhstan's Ambassador in London, who emphasised that we will see continuity in the partnership between our two countries. I will be discussing this development further with him this week. The Government remains committed to maintaining and developing a strong relationship with Kazakhstan, which plays an important strategic role in Central Asia.

Occupied Territories: Demonstrations

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and on what dates with (a) the United Nations Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, (b) the Israeli Government, (c) the Palestinian Authority, and (d) partner countries on the Human Rights Council on the Commission of Inquiry (i) investigation and (ii) report into protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Alistair Burt: We regularly raise our concerns about the situation in Gaza with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, pressing them on the need for a long-term strategy to improve humanitarian and economic conditions, and reduce movement and access restrictions. I raised Gaza with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 30 January, and with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 4 February. On 18 March, the EU gave an intervention on the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, in which we expressed our concern about the high number of Palestinians killed and injured and the use of excessive force including live fire, and condemned violence and provocations against Israel by Hamas and other militant groups.

Gaza: Demonstrations

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (a) what discussions he has had and (b) on what dates with the Israeli Government on Israeli investigations into deaths during protests on the Gaza border in 2018.

Alistair Burt: We regularly raise our concerns about the situation in Gaza with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, pressing them on the need for a long-term strategy to improve humanitarian and economic conditions, and reduce movement and access restrictions. I raised Gaza with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 30 January, and with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 4 February. On 18 March, the EU gave an intervention on the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, in which we expressed our concern about the high number of Palestinians killed and injured and the use of excessive force including live fire, and condemned violence and provocations against Israel by Hamas and other militant groups.

Saudi Rapid Intervention Group

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he can confirm that the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group has not been active in the UK.

Alistair Burt: We can neither confirm nor deny whether the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group has been active in the UK.

Sri Lanka: Water

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Sri Lanka on the effect of the Chunnakam power plant complex on Northern Sri Lanka's water supply.

Mark Field: ​Sri Lanka faces concerns regarding water quality for a number of reasons, including floods and droughts. This is common across the island. The British High Commissioner most recently raised water quality during a visit to Jaffna in June 2018. The Mayor of Jaffna highlighted a number of challenges faced in the north around access to water, but he did not raise the Chunnakam power plant as a concern.Officials at the British High Commission have subsequently been in touch with the Regional Support Centre (North) of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, as well as the Director of the Regional Health Service. Neither raised pollution at the Chunnakam power plant as a current concern. We understand that the plant is no longer functioning and that there is a case ongoing to determine whether the plant was responsible for pollution in that area.

China: Human Rights

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Chinese Government on human rights abuses in detention camps in Xinjiang.

Mark Field: We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the Chinese Government’s deepening crackdown; including credible reports that over 1 million Uyghur Muslims have been held in re-education camps, and reports of widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at ethnic minorities. Visits to Xinjiang by diplomats from our Embassy in Beijing have corroborated much of this open source reporting.Ministers and senior officials have been raising our concerns directly with the Chinese authorities for some time, and will continue to do so. At the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council which ran from February to March 2019, the Minister for the Commonwealth and UN, Lord Ahmad raised our concerns about Xinjiang during his opening address (on 25 February). The UK also raised concerns about Xinjiang during our item 4 statement on 12 March, and we co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” on 13 March.I raised our concerns about Xinjiang with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou during my visit to China on 22 July 2018. The Foreign Secretary, also raised our concerns about the region with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China on 30 July 2018.During China’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council on 6 November 2018, the UK made a statement which described our concerns about the treatment of ethnic minorities in China, including Uyghurs.Following the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Minister for the Commonwealth and UN issued a statement where he said: “I am very concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the re-education camps and the widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at ethnic minorities, particularly the Uyghurs. The UK and many of our international partners have made clear during China’s UPR that this is a priority issue. We recommended that China should implement Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommendations in Xinjiang and allow the UN to monitor implementation.”

Department of Health and Social Care

Eating Disorders

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent trends in mental health nursing staff numbers on waiting times for those who require treatment for eating disorders.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Good progress is being made towards the children and young people’s eating disorder waiting time target. October to December 2018 data shows 80.7% of young people started treatment for an urgent case within one week against a target of 95%, and 86.8% of young people started treatment for a routine case within four weeks against a target of 95%. For adults, the NHS Long Term Plan commits to “test four-week waiting times for adult and older adult community mental health teams, with selected local areas”. The exact scope and timelines of these pilots are yet to be finalised but NHS England will also consider the interfaces with specialist community mental health services, particularly where there is an existing evidence base for rapid direct access, such as adult eating disorder services. The Department is aware of the importance of increasing the number of people working in mental health services and has made an assessment of the workforce needed to deliver timely access to mental health care. In 2017 Health Education England published ‘Stepping forward to 2020/21: The mental health workforce plan for England’, which set our ambition to deliver 21,000 new posts, to be filled by 19,000 additional staff. The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care asked Baroness Dido Harding to develop a Workforce Implementation Plan for the commitments set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. This Interim Workforce Plan will be published in spring and will include an immediate 2019/20 action plan together with a more detailed vision of how the health and care workforce will transform over the next 10 years to deliver 21st century care for our patients. The plan will build on work already underway to recruit, train and importantly retain more staff to address our most immediate shortages.

Eating Disorders

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that everyone who suffers from an eating disorder is able to access treatment and support regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or background.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government is committed to ensuring everyone with an eating disorder has access to timely treatment based on clinical need. NHS England’s ‘Access and Waiting Time Standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder: Commissioning Guide’ sets out guidance on establishing and maintaining eating disorder services. It states that eating disorder services for young people should follow the overarching principles for service design and development for children’s services required of local transformation plans. This includes meeting legal duties with regard to equality, with an aim to reduce inequality in access and outcomes. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cyp-eating-disorders-access-waiting-time-standard-comm-guid.pdf

NHS: Finance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how representations made against aspects of the National Tariff Payment System which are not statutory objections under section 120 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 are assessed by NHS Improvement.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether all representations made against aspects of the National Tariff Payment System 2019/20 will be published by NHS Improvement.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether representations made against aspects of the National Tariff Payment System 2019/20 which are not statutory objections under Section 120 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 are responded to by NHS Improvement.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when a response to the feedback received during the consultation on the National Tariff Payment System 2019/20 will be published by NHS Improvement.

Stephen Hammond: Nationally NHS Improvement identified authorised responders who are the representatives of organisations who have an ability to accept or reject the tariff proposals. NHS Improvement primarily collects feedback via their online survey. However they also receive and consider letters from stakeholders and representative bodies. When the feedback comes in, NHS Improvement treats them all the same regardless of who it comes from. Once all the feedback has been considered by NHS Improvement’s subject matter leads, the joint pricing governance process and boards of NHS Improvement and NHE England decide if any changes should be made. NHS Improvement does not respond individually to the feedback it receives, as to do so would take an excessive amount of time and resource. NHS Improvement is considering whether it would be desirable to publish the survey feedback they have received as part of the consultation.

Blood: Contamination

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information the Government holds via the National Haemophilia Database on the number of haemophiliacs classed as Leiden who were infected via contaminated blood products.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The National Haemophilia Database (NHD) does not collect data on Factor V Leiden patients as the presence of this mutation causes an increased risk of excess blood clotting or thrombosis. The NHD collects statistics on patients with bleeding disorders, their treatment and morbidity and mortality associated with their condition and its treatment, not those with excess blood clotting disorders.

Mental Illness: Children and Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS Digital publication Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2017, what assessment he has made of the factors influencing the upward trend of 5-15 year olds reporting at least one mental health disorder.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 22 March 2019



The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England (2017) prevalence survey shows a slight rise in the prevalence of mental health conditions in children and young people, from 10.1% in 2004 to 11.2% in 2017. Protecting the mental health of our children and young people is a top priority for this Government and is a core part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The recent Children and Young People’s Mental Health Green Paper aims to improve provision of mental health support for all children and young people, and the proposals are based on evidence of what we know is driving the rising demand for children and young people’s mental health services. We will test, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the core proposals to ensure we learn from what works.

Cancer: Drugs

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to prioritise patients with (a) terminal cancer and (b) cancer for the receipt of drugs in the event of medicine shortages due to the UK leaving the EU (i) without an agreement and (ii) with an agreement under which the medicine supply is restricted.

Stephen Hammond: Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK. The Government has been working closely with industry to ensure the supply of medicines, including those for cancer patients, can continue uninterrupted in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit, including building stockpiles, providing additional warehousing space and buying freight capacity on alternative ferry routes. In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the United Kingdom that come from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019 in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply disruption, which includes securing, via the Department for Transport, additional roll on roll off freight capacity away from the short straits crossings to Dover and Folkestone for goods to continue to come into the UK from 29 March. In addition to asking industry to build up stockpiles in the UK ahead of 29 March we have bought extra warehouse space for the additional stock to be held in. We are supporting companies in booking space on aircraft for products which require an immediate shipment due to short shelf-life or specific storage conditions. We have also made changes to, or clarifications of, certain regulatory requirements so that companies can continue to sell their products in the UK even if we have no deal. Finally, we are strengthening the processes and resources used to deal with shortages in the event that they do occur. We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products will be uninterrupted.

Mental Health Services: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made towards meeting the target of having over 1,500 mental health therapists in primary care by March 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Data for the workforce providing mental health therapy services in the community via the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme are available from the 2015 IAPT Workforce Census, which recorded 8,588 IAPT staff (by headcount, equivalent to 7,205 full time equivalents) as at 30 April 2015. More recent data are not available.

Pharmacy: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made towards meeting the target of having over 1,300 clinical pharmacists working in GP surgeries by March 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The General Practitioner (GP) Forward View, published in 2016, set out plans to recruit an additional 1,500 clinical pharmacists into general practice by 2020/21. Following a recent consultation, several changes have been made to the data processing and methodology for general practice workforce data back to September 2015. Figures produced under the old and new methodologies are not comparable and revised figures have so far been published for December 2017, September 2018 and December 2018 only. The remainder of the September 2015 to December 2018 data is planned for publication on 25 April 2019 and cannot be disseminated before this date. The number of pharmacists working in general practice in March 2019 will be published in May 2019. The recently published five-year general practitioner (General Medical Services) contract included funding for the new Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, in Primary Care Networks (PCNs). PCNs will be guaranteed funding for up to an estimated 20,000 additional staff by 2023/24. This funds new roles for which there is both credible supply and demand. The scheme will meet a recurrent 70% of the costs of additional clinical pharmacists, physician associates, first contact physiotherapists, and first contact community paramedics; and 100% of the costs of additional social prescribing link workers. The scope of the scheme will extend gradually, reflecting available supply and funding. Funding will be available from July 2019 for clinical pharmacists through the scheme

Health Visitors: Training

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many training places for health visitors have been (a) commissioned and (b) filled in each financial year since 2010-11.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The number of planned health visitor training places, along with the number of entrants in England each year is shown in following table. Number of planned training commissions against entrants for health visitor programmes in EnglandEntry yearPlanned commissionsEntrants2010-11-5452011-12-1,6062012-13-2,2662013-14-2,7872014-151,0411,1592015-161,1938842016-178175392017-18-448 Source: Health Education England, Financial Management System records (until 2012-13) and Education Commissioning (EdCom) dataset (after 2012-13) Notes:Data up until 2012-13 is based on financial years. Data after 2012-13 is only available in academic years.Data on planned commissions is only available for years 2014-15 to 2016-17.Planned commissions are provisional and so not necessarily equal to the actual number of training places available.

Health Services: Homelessness

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of NHS (a) guidance and (b) regulations on access to care for people with no fixed address.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Entitlement to free National Health Service care is largely based on being ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Being ordinarily resident means, broadly, living here on a lawful and properly settled basis as part of the regular order of his or her life for the time being, with non-European Economic Area nationals subject to immigration control also required to have an immigration status of indefinite leave to remain. Under the Charging Regulations, there is no reason why a person of no fixed abode cannot pass the ordinarily resident test, if they meet the ordinary residence criteria and are therefore exempt from charges. In determining whether charges are to be made under the Charging Regulations, service providers must make such enquiries as are reasonable in all the circumstances. We expect providers to consider the fact that in some circumstances it will be particularly difficult for a person with no fixed abode to provide documentary evidence of their ordinary residence status. The NHS will always provide immediately necessary care, including maternity care, to any patient, regardless of their status in relation to the Charging Regulations. NHS England has produced guidance for general practices clarifying rights of patients and responsibilities of providers when patient register with a general practitioner. Some services continue to remain free to all regardless of residency status, which currently includes primary medical services, the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and accident and emergency services. Also, some groups of particularly vulnerable overseas visitors remain exempt from charge for all their treatment, including refugees and persons granted asylum, failed asylum seekers receiving specified packages of state support, victims of modern slavery, including human trafficking, and children looked after by a local authority. These exemptions continue to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society can access free healthcare whenever they need it.

Hospitals: WiFi

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on rolling out free WiFi services to NHS hospitals by 2020.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Digital has advised that, as at 21 March 2019, 94% (203 out of 216) of community, mental health and acute National Health Service trusts in England are now providing free Wi-Fi services. All NHS trusts plan to provide free Wi-Fi by 2020.

NHS

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 110 of the NHS Long Term Plan, what steps he will take to ensure those responsible for developing Local Plans will consult with relevant stakeholders when designing them; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The National Implementation Framework, to be published in the spring, will provide further information on how the NHS Long Term Plan will be delivered. As local areas begin to develop their implementation plans staff, patients, the public and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to help local organisations determine what the NHS Long Term Plan means for their area, and how services need to adapt and improve in the short and medium term. NHS England is asking local health systems to start this engagement soon and expect local politicians to have an opportunity to be involved in this, as well as other local stakeholders, local partners, communities, service users and patients. Nationally, the National Health Service is working with Healthwatch England and the Voluntary and Community Sector Health and Wellbeing Alliance to provide additional support to local systems in their engagement with local communities.

NHS

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which teams in his Department are responsible for delivering the NHS Long Term Plan; what the remit of each such team is; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: NHS England and NHS Improvement are responsible for delivering the commitments set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, and it is this Government’s priority to support them in getting the implementation right. The National Health Service will publish an implementation framework for the Plan in spring 2019, setting out how the commitments will be delivered by local systems. The Government will monitor delivery against the Plan and hold the NHS to account.

NHS Assembly

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan, which (a) people and (b) organisations will be represented on the NHS Assembly; what the criteria is for their selection; how often that assembly will meet and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The NHS Assembly will comprise around 50 members from a range of health and social care backgrounds. They will be selected on an individual, rather than ex-officio, basis and will therefore not formally represent specific groups or organisations. The Assembly is expected to meet between three and five times a year. Following the conclusion of the public expression of interest exercise which closed on 6 March, almost 500 individuals registered an interest in being a member of the NHS Assembly. All expressions of interest are currently being reviewed with the Co-Chairs, to ensure the Assembly benefits from a balanced and diverse membership.

Department for International Development

Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of linking the 0.7 per cent spending target to the financial year instead of the calendar year to help make the budget easier to manage.

Alistair Burt: The 0.7% target is a UN target which the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) reports adherence to through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) statistics. ODA is the official international standard used to measure aid flows and is measured on a calendar year basis to allow international comparison of donor effort, since fiscal years vary across donor countries.

Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of her having sign-off and accountability for aid spending by other Government Departments.

Alistair Burt: Aid spending is subject to the same rules as all other public expenditure. In line with Treasury rules on Managing Public Money, departments through their accounting officers have ultimate and direct responsibility for their share of the aid budget and remain accountable to Parliament and UK taxpayers for how they spend it. The Government has well established mechanisms to govern aid spending and DFID provides support to other government departments to help strengthen the quality of their aid spending and maximise its impact on poverty.

Department for International Development: Secondment

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her letter to the Chair of the International Development Committee on 18 March 2019 on redeployment of DFID staff, if she will publish a breakdown of which departments the 58 staff were deployed to from her Department.

Alistair Burt: DFID continues to work to support other government departments meet increased demands as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU, whilst ensuring continued delivery of its core business. This includes maintaining our commitment to spend 0.7 of GNI well and providing lifesaving humanitarian response. The total number of staff deployed by DFID as of March 14th 2019 is 74. The table below provides a breakdown of this figure by receiving department. Other Government DepartmentTotalB.I.G15BEIS1CO2DCMS1DEFRA23DExEU7DIT 16DIT (TfD)1FCO 7NIO1Total74

Department for International Development: Secondment

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her letter to the Chair of the International Development Committee of the 18 March 2019 on redeployment of her Department's staff, if she will publish (a) which Departments have requested short-term support roles and (b) how many of the 170 staff each Department has requested.

Alistair Burt: DFID has deployed 74 staff, as at 14 March 2019, into short term support roles. The breakdown by department is as follows: Other Government DepartmentTotalHMRC (B.I.G)15BEISLess than 5COLess than 5DCMSLess than 5DEFRA23DExEU7DIT16DIT (TfD)Less than 5FCO7NIOLess than 5Total74 The 170 roles under consideration by DFID, referenced in the letter to the Chair of the International Development Committee, formed the basis of a cross government request, the breakdown of this request by department is as follows: Requesting department Roles put to DFID Border Delivery Group25DCMS9DEFRA27DExEU39DIT21FCO5HO49Total175

Developing Countries: Debts Written Off

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) debt relief for Mozambique in light of the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai and (b) an automatic debt relief mechanism for all vulnerable countries after large scale disasters.

Penny Mordaunt: I recognise that natural disasters can have a serious impact on affected countries’ ability to service external debts. The Government of Mozambique has not requested consideration for debt relief at this stage, and any consideration of official debt relief would need to be made via the Paris Club of official creditors and done in close coordination with the IMF. The UK Government is not an official creditor to Mozambique. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the Paris Club, to explore the potential for more resilient debt-instruments that support faster economic recovery and stability in the international financial system, while preserving access to financing for development.

Mozambique: Debts

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State on 20 March 2019 on the debt crisis in Mozambique and the role played by the City of London institutions, what the next steps are for the investigation; which UK authority is conducting the investigation; and what the timeline is for it.

Penny Mordaunt: The relevant UK authorities have considered the allegations against UK-based banks and have offered assistance to Mozambique in relation to their investigations. Any action to be taken pursuant to investigations will be a matter for law enforcement authorities. The Government does not comment on law enforcement action for live investigations.

Department for International Development: International Monetary Fund and World Bank

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans Ministers or officials from her Department have to attend the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in April 2019.

Penny Mordaunt: I plan to attend the 2019 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group alongside officials from my department.

Department for Education

Children: Social Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the economic merits of the level of funding for early intervention services provided by local authority children’s services.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government has funded the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) since 2013, including providing almost £2 million of funding in 2018-20, to assess, evaluate and disseminate evidence of what works. The EIF has assessed the benefits of a wide range of specific early intervention programmes and suggested that, whilst producing robust estimates is challenging, there is a compelling argument that intervening early is likely to bring economic benefits to society. In particular, the EIF has highlighted that the long-term economic benefits are considerable where early intervention leads to labour market gains, such as improvements in employment and earnings. However, the EIF is clear that this is not a quick fix and is unlikely to reduce pressure on the social care system in the short term.The value of early intervention is reflected in the statutory guidance “Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)”, which is clear that providing early help is more effective in promoting children’s welfare than reacting later and that it plays an important part in supporting children and young people to achieve better outcomes. The guidance is clear that local areas should have a comprehensive range of effective, evidence-based services in place to address assessed needs early. It is right that local authorities are free to decide how to use their children’s social care budget to manage local priorities and deliver the best services for children.The government has also committed £920 million to the Troubled Families Programme, an early intervention approach which aims to achieve significant and sustained improvement for families in difficult circumstances.

Teacher Workload Advisory Group

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's press release of 15 March 2019 on Support on wellbeing for teachers in schools and colleges, who the members are of the advisory group on teachers' wellbeing; when that group plans to meet; and what the timescale is for reporting its recommendations to his Department.

Nick Gibb: On 15 March 2019, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced the creation of a new expert advisory group, chaired by the Department, to advise multi-academy trusts and local authorities on the wellbeing of school and college leaders and teachers.The expert advisory group will be made up of experts including Paul Farmer, of Mind, Peter Fonagy, from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Nancy Hey, of the What Works Wellbeing Centre, as well as representatives of the school and college sector.The Department will confirm further details on the membership and timescales in due course.

Teacher Workload Advisory Group

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department's teacher workload advisory group is next plans to meet.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s workload advisory group completed its work in 2018 and there are no plans for further meetings of the group. The advisory group’s report, Making Data Work, set out recommendations and principles to reduce the unnecessary workload associated with data and evidence collection. The report was published on 5 November 2018 alongside the government response. The Government accepted, and is acting on, all the recommendations in the report.

Music: Curriculum

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings are scheduled for his Department's independent panel of experts on the model music curriculum.

Nick Gibb: Meetings for the model music curriculum independent panel of experts are scheduled for 5 April and 23 May.

Sex and Relationship Education

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of effect of sex and relationships education on rates of (a) pregnancy and (b) abortion in those under the age of (i) 16 and (ii) 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the (a) individuals and (b) organisations consulted prior to the publication of the Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education, and Health Education in England Government consultation response; and if he will make a statement.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, who his Department consulted before drawing up the draft statutory guidance on Relationship's Education and Relationships and Sex Education for governing bodies, proprietors, head teachers, principals, senior leadership teams, teachers; what research was evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Modern pressures children face such as harms related to the internet, as well as long-standing issues such as abuse or drug misuse, mean children are growing up in an increasingly complex world. That is why we are making making relationships education compulsory for all primary pupils, relationships and sex education (RSE) compulsory for secondary pupils, and health education compulsory for all state-funded pupils.There is clear evidence that good quality RSE also has a protective function in other important areas, supporting further our rationale for making the subjects compulsory. For example, there are several studies that show a positive association between RSE and contraceptive use, and between RSE and later ages for first sexual intercourse, which are behaviours that reduce the risk of teenage pregnancy. Improving contraceptive use to prevent unwanted pregnancy has the potential to reduce abortion rates. Further information is available at the following links:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/3/e007837.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005215.pub3/full.https://powertodecide.org/what-we-do/information/resource-library/emerging-answers-2007-new-research-findings-programs-reduce.The Department conducted a consultation on the draft regulations, statutory guidance and regulatory impact assessment, which closed on 7 November. The Department was contacted by over 40,000 individuals and organisations. These included parents, young people, headteachers, teachers, governors, subject specialists, teaching unions, charities and faith groups. The Department analysed the responses to the consultation and have since published the Government response and updated the draft statutory guidance.The key decisions on these subjects have also been informed by a thorough engagement process. The public call for evidence received over 23,000 responses from parents, young people and schools, and the Department engaged with 90 organisations representing a broad range of views. These stakeholders can be found in the Government response to the Call for Evidence at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/supporting_documents/180718%20Consultation_call%20for%20evidence%20response_policy%20statement.pdf.

Public Appointments

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the public appointments he has authorised since he took office.

Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, was appointed on 8 January 2018. Below are details of the appointments that have been made since that date. In January 2018, Ofsted board members were announced here:https://diversityuk.org/new-members-announced-ofsted-board/. In February 2018, Ofqual board members were announced here:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-members-announced-for-ofqual-board. All appointments from April 2018 onwards have been published on the Cabinet Office website here: https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/announcements/. Where applicable, these appointments have also been announced on the websites of the individual organisations to which they relate. The only exception to this is the appointment in May 2018 of the Chair of the Construction Industry Training Board, which was announced here: https://www.citb.co.uk/about-us/how-we-are-governed/our-board/#peter_lauener.

Sex and Relationship Education

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what legal cases on a parent's right to withdraw their child from sex education lessons were considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Section 34(2)(d) of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, under what circumstances a (a) pupil may be excused and (b) a pupil below a specified age, from receiving relationships and sex education or specified elements of that education; if he will make it his policy to allow a parental opt out for (i) all and (ii) or part of  (A) relationships and (B) sex education; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: On 25 February 2019, following a 17-week consultation on the draft regulations and associated guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education, we published the updated guidance, and laid the regulations for debate in Parliament. The regulations include provision in respect of the right to be excused from sex education that are compatible with the law as it now stands. The case law in relation to a child’s competence to make their own decisions has evolved over time – see for example the 2006 case of ‘R (Axon) v Secretary of State for Health’. The draft statutory guidance on relationships education, RSE, and health education sets out that parents can request that their child be excused from sex education taught as part of RSE at any time. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, head teachers should agree to such requests until three terms before the pupil turns 16. At that point, if the pupil wishes to be taught sex education as part of RSE rather than be withdrawn and again unless there are exceptional circumstances, the school should make arrangements to provide this education for the pupil in one of the three terms before their 16th birthday. Pupils do not have the right to withdraw themselves from sex education or other parts of the curriculum. It is for head teachers to consider the circumstances which may warrant refusing a request to withdraw a pupil from sex education. Paragraphs 45-47 of the guidance sets out the good practice process to follow when headteachers are considering parental requests to withdraw their child from sex education. The guidance is available via this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781150/Draft_guidance_Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education2.pdf.The Children and Social Work Act 2017, which is the primary legislation that placed a duty on my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State to make relationships education and RSE compulsory, did not provide for a right to withdraw from relationships education. The Department has decided that there should also be no right to withdraw from relationships education delivered as part of RSE.

Asylum: Children

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of foster carers and support workers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have received the training on caring for those children that was commissioned to be delivered by ECPAT(UK) and the Refugee Council since 2016 in each local authority area.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the training given to foster carers and support workers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children by ECPAT(UK) and the Refugee Council on preventing unaccompanied children from going missing.

Nadhim Zahawi: Between November 2016 and February 2019, ECPAT(UK) and the Refugee Council have trained 2,086 foster carers and support workers on caring for the specialist safeguarding needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The training is equipping these carers with the skills they need to identify when a child is at risk of going missing to be onwards trafficked, of being exploited for economic, sexual, and criminal exploitation or of being exposed to radicalisation. The information requested on the number of foster carers or support workers is not held centrally so we are unable to provide this as a proportion of the total foster carers and support workers. Since 2016, recipients of the training have generally reported high levels of satisfaction with its quality. For the current tranche of training, 99% of those trained who provided feedback rated the training ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Nurseries: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2019 to Question 229151, whether the £24 million of supplementary funding for maintained nurseries has been re-allocated from within his Department's existing budget.

Nadhim Zahawi: Maintained nursery schools (MNS) make a valuable contribution to improving the lives of some of our most disadvantaged children.We have been providing around £60 million per year of supplementary funding to local authorities so that they can preserve MNS funding. We listened to concerns about the timing of the Spending Review and we announced that we would provide local authorities with around £24 million of further supplementary funding, to enable them to fully fund MNS for the whole of the 2019/20 academic year. Local authorities can feel reassured they can allocate September 2019 places in MNS with confidence.All expenditure that falls in the next Spending Review period, including the additional supplementary funding, is a matter for the Spending Review. That includes any budgeting decisions related to the additional supplementary funding.

Pupils: Sanitary Protection

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consultation he plans to undertake on developing a national scheme to provide free sanitary products in schools and colleges in England.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education is leading the development of a scheme to provide access to free sanitary products in all secondary schools and colleges in England, and it recognises the importance of consulting with stakeholders in the public and private sector to inform planning. Further details about the development and implementation of the scheme will be announced in due course.My right hon. Friend, the Minister for Women and Equalities announced a new expert joint taskforce of government, business and the third sector on 4 March 2019 to develop a sustainable solution to period poverty in the UK. We are actively working with colleagues on the development of the taskforce and through them developing broader stakeholder engagement plans.

Special Educational Needs: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in which London boroughs his Department plans to build new special free schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department currently has plans to build 23 special schools within local authority areas in London. These schools will collectively provide over 2000 new places for children with special educational needs. This includes 5 successful local authority bids announced on 11 March 2019 from wave 2 of the local authority commissioned special free school process. The trust competitions are open for these 5 and successful proposer groups will be announced in winter 2019-20. The number of schools planned in each local authority area is as follows:   Barking and Dagenham2 Hounslow1Barnet1 Kingston upon Thames1Bexley2 Lambeth1Brent1 Newham1Bromley1 Redridge1Croydon1 Richmond upon Thames2Enfield1 Southwark1Havering1 Sutton2Hillingdon3

Schools: Defibrillators

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage schools to install automated external defibrillators on their premises.

Nadhim Zahawi: There is no legal requirement for schools to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED), but the government encourages them to do so as part of their first aid equipment.School-age children are at relatively low risk of cardiac arrest but to ensure that the risk is minimised, AEDs are currently available for schools and other education providers in the UK to purchase through the NHS Supply Chain at a reduced cost. These arrangements are available to all UK schools, including academies and independent schools, sixth-form colleges, further education institutions and early years settings (including holiday and out-of-school providers).The government has produced guidance for schools on buying, installing and using an AED, which can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/automated-external-defibrillators-aeds-in-schools.

Assessments: Fraud

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent (a) secondary and (b) university students from using essay-writing and other cheat services.

Chris Skidmore: The use of companies that sell bespoke essays to students who pass the work off as their own undermines the reputation of the education system in this country, and devalues the hard work of those succeeding on their own merit. The government has a clear expectation that educational institutions do everything in their power to prevent students being tempted by these companies. In a university context that may be through introducing initiatives such as honour codes, and making sure their students are aware of the severe consequences they face if they are caught cheating. In addition, the department will be publishing an Education Technology strategy in the spring which will include encouraging technology companies to identify how anti-cheating software can tackle the growth of essay mills and stay one step ahead of the cheats. The government is supporting the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) to put pressure on technology companies who readily facilitate the use of essay mills. This supports and furthers the 2017 efforts of the QAA and National Union of Students and Universities UK who responded to the government’s request to develop guidance for higher education providers on how to combat the threat of “contract cheating”. The Office for Students is the independent regulator of higher education in England. Through the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, the government has given the Office for Students the power to take action if higher education providers are found to be, in any way, complicit in cheating. This includes imposing fines or ultimately de-registration, the highest possible punishment. The government remains open to the future need for additional legislation, and will continue to investigate all options available. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the independent regulator of qualifications in England for secondary school pupils. In reformed GCSEs, AS and A levels Ofqual have significantly reduced the use of non-exam assessment - primarily permitting it only where the prescribed subject content cannot be assessed within an examination. This means that - in most subjects - a pupil could not use an essay writing service to gain an unfair advantage in an assessment. In all GCSEs, AS and A levels, Ofqual rules require exam boards to do all they can to prevent malpractice and maladministration when developing, delivering and awarding regulated qualifications, to investigate allegations and suspicions of malpractice when they arise and to impose appropriate sanctions when malpractice is confirmed.

National College Creative Industries

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) further education and (b) apprenticeship students have (i) graduated and (ii) been recruited from the National College Creative Industries (formally the National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries) for each year since its creation.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total staff number is for the National College Creative Industries (formally National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries) for each year since its creation.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what amount of funding from the public purse has been provided to the (a) National College Creative Industries, (b) National College for the Creative and Cultural Industries and (c) The Backstage Centre in each year since their creation.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the National College Creative Industries’ former students are now employed in a relevant industry.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the background of student intake is for the National College Creative Industries by (a) region, (b) gender and (c) the number of students from low income backgrounds.

Anne Milton: The number of further education (FE) students and apprentices who have graduated and been recruited from the National College for Creative and Cultural Industries is set out in the table below on FE student and apprenticeship starts and completions. As the apprenticeships last 12 months, some students are still due to complete for this year and next year. The data for this table has been supplied from the college’s own records. Academic year 2016/17Academic year 2017/18Academic year 2018/19FE student starts92028FE student completions9141Apprenticeship starts405338Apprenticeship completions2780 The college does not have destination data available for students in 2016/17. However, out of the FE students who completed in academic year 2017/18, 8 are working in the industry and the remainder have gone onto to further education or higher education. The student intake according to region and gender is in the table below. Detailed information onthe number of students from low income background is currently not available. Number of studentsEast of England63London85North East1North West3South East20South West4West Midlands6Yorks and Humber6 It should be noted that the data is supplied by the college’s own records for academic years 2016/17 to 2018/19.GenderNumberFemale86Male102 It should be noted that the data is supplied by the college’s own records for academic years 2016/17 to 2018/19.The government has not provided funding to the Backstage Centre. Funding provided to the National College for Creative and Cultural Industries since its incorporation is set out in the table below, where details of the funding covers financial years from April to March. 2015-162016-172017-182018-19TotalCapital funding£50,000£195,449£174,525-£419,974Revenue support funding---£275,000£275,000Working capital loan--£650,000£600,000£1,250,000Total£50,000£195,449£824,525£875,000£1,944,974 The number of total staff per year since the creation of the National College for Creative and Cultural Industries is set out in the table below, which includes temporary placements, apprentices and part time staff.Calendar YearStaff number201720201822201916

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect recent changes in the level of funding for schools on the diversity of curriculum choices in secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: There is no change in the Government’s curricular requirements of state funded schools. Maintained schools must follow the national curriculum and teach religious education (and sex and relationships education in secondary schools); while academies are required by their funding agreements to teach English, mathematics, science and religious education, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.The vast majority of school funding is given to schools through the Dedicated Schools Grant. Schools are free to choose how they spend this, and this includes decisions on the curriculum they offer, beyond the requirements set out above. The Department trusts schools and head teachers to spend their budgets in a way that achieves the best outcomes for pupils.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) creative subjects and (b) a choice of foreign languages are offered to all secondary school students.

Nick Gibb: All state maintained secondary schools must teach art and design, music and a modern foreign language (MFL) to pupils at Key Stage 3 (pupils aged 11 – 14). Drama is taught as part of the English curriculum and dance is included in PE & sport. At Key Stage 4 (pupils aged 14 – 16), there is a statutory entitlement for every pupil to take an arts subject and a MFL leading to a recognised qualification, if they wish to do so. Academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum. Ofsted is also currently undertaking a consultation on its proposed new education inspection framework. The consultation runs until 5 April. Under its proposals, inspectors will assess the extent to which schools, including academies, are providing a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils which helps them acquire knowledge, understanding and skills in all aspects of their education. Between 2016 and 2020 the Government is spending almost £500 million on a range of arts and cultural education programmes. The Department has also launched a £4.8 million MFL Pedagogy Pilot to support secondary schools in delivering a high quality languages education.

Extracurricular Activities

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of recent changes in funding for schools on the provision for extracurricular activities in schools including the creative and performing arts.

Nick Gibb: Schools provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities. For example, a report by Birmingham City University published by Arts Council England shows that in 2016/17 schools delivered over 8,600 ensembles and choirs in partnership with their local music education hub. They also delivered over 31,000 ensembles and choirs independently. Between 2016/20 the Department is spending almost £500 million on a range of creative arts and cultural education programmes that take place in and out of school. The Arts Council England report is available here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/KeyDataOnMusicEducationHubs2017_0.pdf. The vast majority of school funding is given to schools through the Dedicated Schools Grant. Schools are free to choose how they spend this to support their pupils, and this includes decisions on funding extracurricular activities. The Department trusts schools and head teachers to spend their budgets in a way that achieves the best outcomes.

Curriculum: Equality

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to ensure that (a) history, (b) English literature and (c) other core curriculum subjects reflect diverse viewpoints and minority groups including (i) BAME groups, (ii) members of the Commonwealth, (iii) women and (iv) LGBT+ people.

Nick Gibb: Following reform of the national curriculum in 2014, schools have greater flexibility to ensure their school curriculum suits the individual needs of pupils. Within this framework, schools are free to choose texts that will stimulate and challenge their pupils, reflecting diverse viewpoints and minority groups, including reflecting their diverse viewpoints. More specifically:The history programme of study explains that the purpose of the subject is to help “pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time”. It aims to ensure that pupils know and understand “how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world”. The English programme of study for secondary schools sets out that pupils should read a wide range of high-quality, challenging, classic literature and extended literary non-fiction, such as essays, reviews and journalism. The citizenship programme of study requires pupils to be taught about human rights and the “diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding”. Although the content of the school curriculum is excluded from the Equality Act 2010, the way in which a school provides education, the delivery of the curriculum, is explicitly included. Thus, as set out in departmental advice to schools, they are free to include a full range of issues, ideas and materials in their syllabus, and to introduce pupils to thoughts and ideas of all kinds, however challenging or controversial. Schools are still required, however, to ensure that the way in which issues are taught does not subject individual pupils to discrimination.

Ministry of Justice

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Consultants

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service spent on consultancies (a) in total, (b) per consultancy in each of the financial years (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.

Lucy Frazer: Please find below the total spend on consultancy for HMCTS for the period requested. Please note the spend is taken from our Bravo spend tool and is an accurate figure of what has been invoiced within this period: (i) 2016-17 = £3,103,764.16(ii) 2017-18 = £11,805,649.04 Please see below table which outlines the consultancy projects for the periods requested for HMCTS, the information includes start dates, contract values and descriptions of the services: Start DateSupplierTotal Value of Contract2016/17BMT Hi-Q Sigma£150,0002016/17Capita£795,0002016/17Concerto Partners LLP£258,9802016/17Ernst & Young LLP£6,236,7752016/17KPMG LLP£1,129,8752016/17PA Consulting Services Limited£2,415,3192016/17PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP£107,8002017/18Allen Lane Consultancy Limited£3,657,7502017/18Deloitte LLP£462,0402017/18Methods Business and Digital£1,997,0002017/18PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP£30,000,0002017/18Veracity Consulting£681,015  Consultants are engaged to deliver short-term on projects where specialist skills required are not available within the organisation. As part of the governance process, approvals are sought from Finance Business Partner, HR Business Partner & the Director General to ensure that project outcomes and budget are validated and to seek confirmation that internal resource is not available to deliver either due to the specialist nature of the project or due to capacity issues enabling delivery within the project timescales. By making use of consultants, the department can save on salary, national insurance and pension costs associated with permanently employing individuals whose skills may not be needed after a set period. The government is investing £1bn to reform our courts and tribunals service, bringing new technology and modern ways of working to the justice system and benefiting all those that use it.

Courts: Reform

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been spent by the HM Courts and Tribunals Service on the courts reform programme to date.

Lucy Frazer: As of February 2019, HM Courts and Tribunals Service has spent £514m on the Reform Programme. Since 2015/16, approximately £122m has been raised from the sale of surplus court building, every penny of which has been reinvested into the justice system. The government is investing £1bn to reform our courts and tribunals service, bringing new technology and modern ways of working to the justice system and benefiting all those that use it.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average appeal time is for personal independence payment claims that are reversed or modified on appeal.

Lucy Frazer: This information is not held centrally. HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) records waiting times for appeals from receipt to final disposal but this is not further broken down to waiting times dependent on the outcome. Appeals are heard against decisions made on both new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims and reassessments for existing claimants. Additionally, PIP consists of a daily living and a mobility component, both or either, of which can be paid at the standard, or enhanced rate.HMCTS will not necessarily identify those decisions which are reversed or modified on appeal as they cannot be isolated. Information about waiting times and outcomes for PIP appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. Latest figures (to December 2018) indicate that since PIP was introduced, 3.9 million decisions have been made, and of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned at tribunals.

NHS: Negligence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will bring forward legislative proposals to reform the tort of negligence in medical malpractice to address the rising cost of clinical negligence claims.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will work with the Civil Justice Council to fix recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims above £25,000 and below £250,000.

Lucy Frazer: In 2017 the National Audit Office (NAO) published a report which challenged the Government to publish a co-ordinated strategy to reduce clinical negligence costs. The Ministry of Justice is working jointly with the Department of Health and Social Care, the Treasury, Cabinet Office, NHS Resolution and others, to respond to the challenge from NAO in the report Managing the Costs of Clinical Negligence in Trusts to publish a co-ordinated strategy to reduce clinical negligence costs. We are looking at all the drivers of costs, as challenged by NAO, and a wide range of options are being considered. We will update the House when we are in a position to do so. The Civil Justice Council (CJC) is expected to report shortly on proposals to extend fixed recoverable costs (FRC) in clinical negligence cases up to £25k damages. The Government will consult before implementing any extension of FRC following the CJC report.

Dangerous Driving: Prosecutions

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted for causing serious injury by dangerous driving in 2018.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in 2018.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving received a suspended sentence in 2018.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average prison sentence was for causing serious injury by dangerous driving in 2018.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving received the maximum five year jail sentence in 2018.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice will publish data relating to the number of people prosecuted, convicted and given suspended sentences or immediate custodial sentences in 2018 for ‘causing serious injury by dangerous driving’ on 16 May 2019.

Legal Aid Agency: Enforcement

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the annual spend by the Legal Aid Agency was on enforcement agents in each of the last five years; how many people the Legal Aid Agency has used enforcement agents against in that same period; and how much money has been recovered through the use of enforcement agents in that same period.

Lucy Frazer: The Legal Aid Agency uses a range of methods to safeguard public money where this is owed under the Regulations which govern the legal aid scheme. Any enforcement activity undertaken is proportionate to the circumstances of the case at hand. As the specific details enquired about would be recorded on individual files, these could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the 5,238 personal independence payment appeals to the First Tier Tribunal in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2018 that were cleared without a hearing were (i) withdrawn by the appellant, (ii) conceded by the Department for Work and Pensions, (iii) struck out and (iv) superseded.

Lucy Frazer: Information about outcomes for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. Latest figures (to December 2018) indicate that since PIP was introduced, 3.9 million decisions have been made, and of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned at tribunals. The data requested which are available (HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not record a “conceded” outcome) are set out in the table below. Benefit Outcome TypeOct 18 pNov 18 pDec 18 pPersonal Independence Payment 1Withdrawn314351246Struck out1096Superseded164715011154 1Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Payment Claims (Reassessments). p Provisional data subject to change.An SSCS appeal may be captured more than once as a hearing or non-hearing should the original decision be overturned, set aside or an Upper Tribunal re-hearing is granted.Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.The data provided are the most recent available and for that reason might differ slightly from any previously published information. Data are taken from a live management information system and can change over time. Data provided are internal Management Information and are not published

Employment Support Allowance: Appeals

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many of the 2,229 employment support allowance appeals to the First Tier Tribunal in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2018 that were cleared without a hearing were (i) withdrawn by the appellant, (ii) conceded by the Department for Work and Pensions, (iii) struck out and (iv) superseded.

Lucy Frazer: Information about outcomes for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. Latest figures for ESA (Between April 2014 – September 2018) indicate that 3.9m ESA (post WCA) decisions have been made, of these 8% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. The data requested which are available (HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not record a “conceded” outcome) are set out in the table below. Benefit Outcome TypeOct 18 pNov 18 pDec 18 pEmployment and Support Allowance 1Withdrawn201193114Struck out892Superseded632651419 1 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. ESA was introduced in October 2008 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010. p Provisional data subject to change.An SSCS appeal may be captured more than once as a hearing or non-hearing should the original decision be overturned, set aside or an Upper Tribunal re-hearing is granted.Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.The data provided are the most recent available and for that reason might differ slightly from any previously published information. Data are taken from a live management information system and can change over time. Data provided are internal Management Information and are not published.

Treasury

Children: Day Care

Angela Rayner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2019 to Question 229140, to what programmes the remaining £3.25 billion of expenditure for childcare support will be allocated in 2019-20.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government provides an extensive range of childcare support through a number of policies delivered by HMRC, DWP and DfE. HMRC is responsible for Tax Free Childcare, Employer Supported Childcare and the Childcare element of Working Tax Credit. DWP administers the Childcare element of Universal Credit. DfE provides a variety of childcare support, including 15 hours free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds, an additional 15 hours free childcare for eligible working parents of 3 and 4 year olds and 15 hours free childcare for the most disadvantaged 2 year olds.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HMRC takes to notify Child Benefit claimants that start to receive a salary which effects their entitlement of their responsibility to complete a tax self-assessment.

Elizabeth Truss: The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) applies to anyone with an income over £50,000 who claims Child Benefit, or whose partner claims Child Benefit.Those who continue to receive Child Benefit must register for Self Assessment to declare their Child Benefit payments and pay the tax charge through their tax return.HMRC makes information on HICBC, and the need to declare and pay HICBC via Self Assessment widely available. Guidance is published on gov.uk, which lists HICBC among the criteria for those who must file a Self Assessment return, and HMRC uses social media and marketing campaigns to increase awareness.HMRC also writes to individuals to remind them to check whether they need to register for Self Assessment to declare their Child Benefit payments, where it is aware that individuals may have become liable for HICBC.

Boilers

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which stakeholders and other Government Departments he consulted with prior to his announcement of a ban on gas boilers in new dwellings from 2025.

Robert Jenrick: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery, and the Future Homes Standard went through the usual approvals process for Spring Statement measures. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Tax Avoidance

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what records HMRC holds on suicides by individuals who are subject to the 2019 loan charge.

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has made an (a) assessment of the risk of suicide and (b) estimate of the number of suicides among people subject to the 2019 Loan Charge; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: When HMRC is notified that an individual has taken their own life, and had contact with the customer at the time, or shortly beforehand, its standard process is to refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct within 24 hours of the notification. On Monday 18 March, HMRC was informed that a customer had, very sadly, taken their own life. The department had previously been told that the individual had used disguised remuneration schemes. Out of respect for the family, and given HMRC’s statutory duty of taxpayer confidentiality, it is not in a position to comment further. Suicide is a complex issue and there is rarely a single cause. It is important to emphasise that it will be for a coroner to determine any cause of death, not HMRC. The department will, of course, co-operate fully with any inquest. As Sir Jonathan Thompson KCB, HMRC Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary, said in his 13 March 2019 letter to the Loan Charge All Party Parliamentary Group, at that time HMRC was aware of reports but did not possess information that enabled it to identify a named individual. An impact assessment was published when the measure was announced at Budget 2016. The Government will also publish a report that will set out the rationale for, and impact of, the policy before 30 March 2019.

Further Education: Finance

Thelma Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on raising the base rate of education funding for 16-18 year olds.

Elizabeth Truss: Treasury Ministers regularly receive representations on all aspects of public spending from a range of individuals and organisations, including Further Education funding. For instance, I recently met with colleagues from both sides of the House to discuss the issue further.

Coinage

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the commemorative 50 pence coin to mark the UK's departure from the EU with the date of 29 March 2019 has been minted.

Robert Jenrick: Currently, no commemorative coins to mark the UK’s departure from the UK have been minted. However, as is standard procedure at The Royal Mint, a small number of trial coins have been produced. The production of trial coins does not incur any cost to the taxpayer.

Hospitals: Capital Investment

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of adequacy of capital allocations to new hospital projects.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on new hospital projects in the East of England.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of capital funding allocations for new hospital projects costing more than £100 million.

Elizabeth Truss: Government has committed £3.9bn of new capital investment by 2022/23 to transform and modernise NHS buildings.Of this, £2.6bn of capital funding has been allocated to 153 STP transformation schemes – the single biggest injection of its kind in the NHS in over a decade. Over £240m of this will help the NHS to meet local demand in the East of England, through new emergency departments and additional bed capacity.In the last two years, the government has agreed to fund four large hospital schemes and has committed to invest in at least one large hospital per year. This includes funding for a £118m project to provide a new Children’s Hospital in Cambridge, in the East of England.As part of the NHS Long-Term Plan, the government has also committed to consider proposals from the NHS for a multi-year capital plan to support transformation. These discussions will form part of the 2019 Spending Review.The government is increasing NHS spending by £33.9bn in cash terms by 2023/24 – reflecting that the NHS is this government’s top spending priority.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Emergency Calls: Hearing Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps has his Department has taken to enable deaf people to use 999 to contact the fire brigade using video relay services.

Jake Berry: The Home Office is responsible for Fire and Rescue policy.

Non-domestic Rates

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when all local authorities will retain 100 per cent of business rates.

Rishi Sunak: The business rates retention scheme is yielding strong results. Local authorities estimate that in 2019-20 they will keep around £2.5 billion in business rates growth. The Government is committed to increasing business rates retention and is aiming to move to 75 per cent retention of business rates from 2020/21. The Government will continue to work with the sector to identify other opportunities to further increase business rates retention when it is right to do so.

Families: Disadvantaged

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many families have accessed the Troubled Families programme (a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) in each local authority area in each year since that programme has been in operation.

Rishi Sunak: Holding answer received on 22 March 2019



To date, the programme has funded areas to work with nearly 400,000 families. A full list of families worked with for each area can be found in Annex A and B. However, we know that local authorities are working in a whole family way with a far greater number of families.  



Funding allocation
(Word Document, 39.21 KB)

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many developments and blocks identified as having ACM cladding have been subject to a full settlement under the NHBC buildings warranty scheme so that the remediation work will be covered by that scheme.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



The Government is aware that the NHBC has currently accepted 7 warranty claims for buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding in England and Wales. A number of these claims include multiple buildings. Further claims are still being considered.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government,what estimate he has made of the number of flats in the 163 private residential blocks with ACM cladding that are still awaiting remediation.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



MHCLG estimate there are approximately 16,600 dwellings in the 163 private residential blocks with Aluminium Composite Material cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations which are yet to be remediated.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2019 to Question 232023 and the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214563 on Buildings: Insulation, whether his Department has analysed the non-Aluminium Composite Material samples held at the Building Research Establishment to establish how many are High Pressure Laminate-B with stonewool.

Kit Malthouse: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214560 on Buildings: Insulation, whether his Department plans to source material samples for the non-Aluminium Composite Material testing programme from the open market or if the material samples will be procured directly from manufacturers.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2019 to Question 229147 on Buildings: Insulation, whether his Department plans to source samples of High Pressure Laminate cladding and stonewool insulation from the open market or directly procure the material samples from manufacturers.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



Samples for testing are being obtained through a range of sources depending on their availability.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Consultants

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many consultants his Department has hired since 2016; and what the cost of that hiring was to the public purse.

Jake Berry: The Department does not hold information on the number of consultants hired in any one year as this work is often commissioned as part of an outcomes- based contract to ensure value for money.The amount spent on consultants each year since 2016 is published in the Department Annual Report and Accounts on page 55 under Expenditure on Consultancy and Temporary Staff at the website below:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/727588/MHCLG_ARA_2017_18_WEB_Accessible.pdf.

Housing: Oxfordshire

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has plans for investment in active transport as part of delivering sustainable housing growth in Oxfordshire.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



The Government is committed to supporting the delivery of homes in areas affected by severe affordability pressures, such as Oxfordshire. To this end, we have secured a Housing & Growth Deal with Oxfordshire, supporting the delivery of 100,000 homes by 2031. At Spring Statement, the Chancellor announced £218 million of funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for the Access to Didcot Garden Town scheme. This funding is for transport infrastructure, which includes improved cycling provision, to unlock much needed new homes in the area.Investment for active transport projects relating to housing can be provided if they demonstrate they would provide considerable benefits, including in relation to the goal of promoting sustainable modes of transport. The Government has provided dedicated funding to Oxfordshire County Council to support the development of a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which enables local authorities to take a strategic approach to planning local cycling and walking improvements, and to integrate these into wider development plans.

Housing Infrastructure Fund: Oxfordshire

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received from Oxfordshire County Council on the inclusion of cycling and walking routes in bids to the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



Through the Housing Infrastructure Fund we are awarding £5.5 billion of grant funding for infrastructure that will unlock new homes in areas of the greatest housing need such as Oxfordshire. At spring statement the Chancellor announced £218 million of funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for the Access to Didcot Garden Town scheme for transport infrastructure, including improved cycling provision.

Housing Infrastructure Fund

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) cycling infrastructure, (b) walking infrastructure and (c) community paths fall within the scope of Housing Infrastructure Fund Forward Funding bids.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



Housing Infrastructure Fund Forward Funding bids are for strategic and high-impact infrastructure schemes. This funding for local authorities is awarded on a competitive basis, providing grant funding for new infrastructure that will, at scale and pace, unlock new homes in areas of the greatest housing need. We published the criteria and guidance, including examples of the type of infrastructure that a local authority may choose to include in a bid.

Housing: Construction

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department includes the improvement of sustainable transport as a priority for the delivery of additional housing.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 25 March 2019



The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework emphasises the importance of sustainable transport in planning for housing. Housing and transport infrastructure need to be considered together, and local planning authorities should ensure they reflect this when assessing sites that may be allocated in plans and considering specific applications for development. Joint working should underpin the preparation of plans to help determine where opportunities exist to promote sustainable transport.

Ministry of Defence

Defence Infrastructure Organisation: Buildings

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many properties that are the responsibility of Defence Infrastructure Organisation have (a) mould and (b) asbestos.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: At the present time, 426 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties have reported damp and mould issues. This is less than 1% of the overall SFA portfolio, and the continued reduction is being actively managed through robust arrangements.Given the number of SFA properties built prior to 1970, around 34,300 homes (70%) still contain low risk asbestos containing materials (ACM). These are suspended in artex ceiling coatings, adhesive to floor tiles and external roof facias etc. Under our duty of care, the Ministry of Defence maintains an asbestos register and monitors closely the condition of ACM to ensure dangers are minimised. Of note, the English housing survey of 2014-2015 reported that 76% of all houses in England which were built before 1980 and approximately 18 million homes potentially contain ACM.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Guided Weapons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeframe is for the completion of the integration of the F-35 fleet's MBDA Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and SPEAR precision surface attack missile.

Stuart Andrew: The integration of Meteor and the SPEAR Capability 3 precision surface attack missile onto F-35 Lightning is in its early stages and therefore a definitive timeframe for its completion has yet to be fully established. We do, however, anticipate a completion timescale of 2024/25.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, When his Department plans to make an announcement on the awarding of the contract for the Fleet Solid Support ships.

Stuart Andrew: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 November 2018 to Question 191321 from the hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones).



191321 - Shipping procurement
(Word Document, 27.39 KB)

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) the armed forces and (b) BAE systems employees in Saudi Arabia are not in violation of international humanitarian law as a result of in-country services to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

Mark Lancaster: There are restrictions on the provision of direct support to Royal Saudi Air Force operations.I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 March 2019 to question 232090.



232090 - Saudi Arabia; Military Aid
(Word Document, 22.29 KB)

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2019 to Question 228123 and the Answer of 18 March 2019 to Question 232088, how UK military personnel support Saudi compliance with International Humanitarian Law (a) without advance knowledge of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen and (b) not having witnessed any violations International Humanitarian Law.

Mark Lancaster: We provide training and advice to the Saudi Coalition to support compliance with International Humanitarian Law. The British military has some of the highest standards in the world in how we conduct ourselves in armed conflicts and seek to avoid civilian casualties; we are happy to share our hard-won experience with our partners.We draw from our own experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere to learn lessons and to improve our processes even further. It is entirely right that we share techniques for minimising civilian casualties with other countries to ensure their military campaigns can be conducted in the most humane manner possible.

D-Day Landings: Anniversaries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Lancaster) on 28 February 2019 to Question 224816 to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Heidi Allen).https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-02-22/224816/

Type 26 Frigates: Construction

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the cost to the public purse of lengthening the build-time for each Type-26 Frigate; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (the Rt Hon. the Earl Howe), on 12 March 2019 to Question HL 14108 in the House of Lords.



HL14108 - Type 26 Frigates
(Word Document, 22.32 KB)

Military Aircraft: Training

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason trainer aircraft were included in the Combat Air Strategy.

Stuart Andrew: The Combat Air Strategy does not include trainer aircraft.Combat Air is defined in the Strategy as "an aircraft, manned or unmanned, whose prime function is to conduct air-to-air and/or air-to-surface combat operations in a hostile and/or contested environment, whilst having the ability to concurrently conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and command and control tasks." Training aircraft therefore do not meet this definition.

Military Aircraft: Training

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the future provision of combat air training.

Stuart Andrew: Following the termination of the Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) competition, we are currently reviewing all options for the future provision of air support to defence operational training, including combat air. Our priority is ensuring the continuity of air support to operational training and that there is no capability gap.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) RAF personnel, (b) RAF personnel on secondment to BAE and (c) former RAF personnel now working for BAE, are working in Saudi Arabia; and what is the nature of the work for each of those groups.

Mark Lancaster: As of March 2019, around 80 RAF personnel are working in Saudi Arabia of which around 20 are on secondment to BAE. Information regarding the number of former RAF personnel now working for BAE in Saudi Arabia is not held.The Ministry of Defence is not required to maintain a record of the employment status of former personnel.RAF personnel roles include routine engineering support, generic training support and liaison roles.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Situation of human rights in Yemen, including violations and abuses since September 2014, published on 13 September 2017, what steps his Department has taken to reduce the legal exposure of (a) the armed forces and (b) workers supporting the Royal Saudi Air Force under contract to the UK government from alleged violations of international humanitarian law.

Mark Lancaster: UK Armed Forces are not exposed to legal liability because the UK is not a member of the Saudi-led Coalition and all UK military assistance to Saudi Arabia is in accordance with international and national law. All UK personnel in Saudi Arabia remain under UK command and control.Regarding workers supporting the Royal Saudi Air Force under contract to the UK Government, our arms export regime is one of the most rigorous in the world. The key test for our continued arms exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to international humanitarian law (IHL) is whether there is a clear risk that those items subject to the licence might be used in a serious violation of IHL. The situation is kept under careful and continual review.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2019 to Question 232088 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, how many reports of suspected violations of international humanitarian law have been made by (a) UK armed forces operating in Saudi Arabia and (b) BAE personnel working under contract to the UK Government.

Mark Lancaster: None.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 232090 on Saudi Arabia: Military Aid, if his Department will provide the figures requested in that Question.

Mark Lancaster: No BAE Systems employees or RAF personnel on secondment to the company, operating under the long-standing Government-to-Government arrangements, provide direct support for Royal Saudi Air Force operational squadrons when engaged in the war in Yemen. They do not prepare aircraft for operations, do not load weapons, and do not get involved in the planning of operational sorties.

Armed Forces: Civilians

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what spending his Department has allocated to the workforce transformation programme since the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015; what proportion of that spending was on external consultants; and what efficiency improvements his Department has identified as a result of that work.

Stuart Andrew: The Ministry of Defence's workforce transformation programme is in its early stages, and efficiency improvements will be identified as it progresses. Since its inception in summer 2018, work has focused on the potential to reform working practices and developing early plans to do so. As part of this work the Department has drawn on the expertise of some external consultants, at a cost of around £1.7 million

RAF Linton-on-Ouse: Closures

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Royal Air Force plans to issue a closure notice for RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Royal Air Force intends to cease use of RAF Linton-on-Ouse in 2020, as announced in summer 2018. The Ministry of Defence is currently considering options for other Defence uses for the site before a final decision is made on disposal. Any decision to dispose of RAF Linton-on-Ouse will be announced in Parliament in due course.

Defence Fire and Rescue Service: Serco

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department did not provide Serco with information on the evaluation process for the contract for the Defence Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Defence Fire and Rescue Project remains subject to a legal challenge and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further. However, the Department is satisfied that all relevant documents will be disclosed.

Armed Forces: Civilians

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is still his Department’s policy to reduce the overall size of the civilian workforce to 41,000 by 2020.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence has delivered a 35% reduction in our civilian workforce since 2010, and remains committed to improving its efficiency while delivering the capabilities our Armed Forces need. As part of our new approach to transformation, we are re-examining how to utilise the talents of our entire workforce more effectively. This will have implications for the size and shape of our future workforce, which we will work through in detail. The outcomes of that work will supersede the civilian workforce assumptions made in Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Armed Forces: Job Satisfaction

Mary Glindon: What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of morale in the armed forces.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence places great importance on the morale of our Armed Forces and we are taking steps to enhance the positive aspects and experiences of Service life. Issues previously identified in the survey have already informed the development of a range of programmes under way across Defence and the single Services including Flexible Service and the Future Accommodation Model.

Veterans: Honours

Charlie Elphicke: What steps his Department is taking to ensure that veterans are honoured for their service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our veterans are honoured and recognised in a number of ways. The publication of the Strategy for our Veterans, the Veterans ID card, the Veterans Badge, Armed Forces Day and events throughout the year, including the D Day 75 commemorations in June, recognise the huge debt we owe to those who have served in HM Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Covenant is a cross-Government pledge to support the Armed Forces community, including veterans, across all sectors of society.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 February 2019 to Question 221994, whether it was the research contractor or the Department who made the decision to report without differentiating between live and full service; for what purpose live service was included as a separate sample to full service in the claimant survey at the beginning of the 2017-18 year; whether live service and full service have been reported separately internally for 2017-18; what the total cost was of the claimant survey research conducted for 2017-18; what plans he has to compare the full service findings of the 2018-19 claimant survey with the full service findings from the 2017-18 survey; and what questions within the survey questionnaire have not been reported within the annual report and data tables.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 28 February 2019



The Department has made the decision not to differentiate between Live and Full service for a number of Universal Credit data sets, including the claimant survey. This is because both services operate within the same policy framework and live service is being phased out. For the 2017/18 survey year, the cost was £382,435.26 across all main benefits. We track trends in claimant satisfaction, although individual year results are not always comparable; where this is the case we point that out for users of the survey. The questions within the survey questionnaire that have not been reported within the annual report and data tables are listed in the table in the document attached:



Claimant Service and Experience Survey
(PDF Document, 84.79 KB)

Disability: Cost of Living

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report entitled the Disability Price Tag 2019, published by Scope in February 2019, what assessment she has made of the extra costs incurred by disabled people; and if she will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: We recognise that there are extra costs faces by those with long term health conditions and disabilities. That is why the Department provides a financial contribution towards those disability-related costs through Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. We will be spending over £26 billion on the extra costs disability benefits next year (2019/20), part of the over £55 billion spending on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. Benefit provision is in addition to the wide range of additional support people with health conditions and disabilities may receive including from Local Authorities or the National Health Service.

Universal Credit

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timeframe is for the universal credit managed migration trial that is planned to start in July 2019; and if she will publish an assessment of the effectiveness of that trial after it has concluded.

Alok Sharma: As set out in Ministerial Statement HCWS1399 on 12 March 2019, we will begin the pilot phase for moving a small number existing legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit in July 2019. We expect this pilot to take about 12 months, and expect all legacy benefit claimants to have been moved onto Universal Credit by the end of 2023, as previously planned. Following the pilot, we will report on our findings to Parliament before bringing forward legislation to continue this process on a larger scale.

Universal Credit: Cancer

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on claimants of benefits with cancer.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. We are committed to ensuring that people who have cancer are treated with the upmost sensitivity and care, when making a claim to Universal Credit. For instance, when a claimant is asked to attend a Work Capability Assessment to determine entitlement to the additional component of Universal Credit specifically for disabled claimants, they must complete a UC50 questionnaire which incorporates a 'light touch' evidence gathering process for cancer patients; and makes clear that Clinical Nurse Specialists and consultants can provide information on the form, therefore making the claim and assessment process simpler for people with cancer.We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people who claim Universal Credit to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. This includes how they are identified and supported, either from our own staff or via referrals from local services.

Occupational Health

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the uptake of occupational health schemes among employers.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government wants to see employers of all sizes create healthy workplaces where people can thrive. We will consult this year on measures to encourage and support all employers to play their part and to improve access to occupational health. Advice from an Occupational Health Expert Group is helping shape proposals. We have also commissioned research to better understand the current market supply and delivery structures of OH provision and its operation. Findings are due to be published in 2019. Tax incentives are currently available to employers to encourage investment in employee health and wellbeing, including relief for employer-funded medical treatment up to £500 where there has been a recommendation from an occupational health professional and the employee has been absent for 28 days.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending to all people with later stage (a) degenerative and (b) non-curable conditions the ceasing of repeat assessments for personal independence payment; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons people with progressively deteriorating conditions are subject to repeat personal independence payment assessments.

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to ensure that people with progressively deteriorating conditions do not receive reduced support from her Department following repeat personal independence payment assessments.

Justin Tomlinson: Once someone has been awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which can be paid at one of eight rates, that award will be reviewed. Reviews of PIP are a key part of the benefit to ensure that awards remain correct where needs may change (including where needs increase and the award may need to increase) and that we maintain contact with the claimant, both features that are missing from its predecessor Disability Living Allowance. The length of an award is based on an individual’s circumstances and can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review after ten years. We introduced updated guidance for case managers and an updated PIP Assessment Guide in 2018 which will ensure that those people who receive the highest level of support under PIP, and where their needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten-year point. In line with PIP’s aim to be needs-based rather than condition-based, the change to the guidance is not condition specific. However, we believe the changes will ensure that those with severe and/or progressive conditions receive the most appropriate award duration that reflects their condition and the needs arising. Special considerations also apply to claimants who are terminally ill, and our arrangements recognise the particular difficulties faced by people who only have a short time to live. Claims by people with a terminal illness are fast tracked, are not subject to a face-to-face assessment and they are guaranteed the enhanced rate of the Daily Living Component; nearly all also receive the enhanced rate of mobility.

Universal Credit

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied for universal credit; and how many of those claimants received an advance payment.

Alok Sharma: The latest available information on the number of Universal Credit claims is published and can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/.Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html Internal data shows that for February 2019, around 60% of eligible new claims to Universal Credit Full Service received an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2017 to Question 113562 on Personal Independence Payment: Appeals, if it remains the Government's intention that Presenting Officers attend 50 per cent of personal independence and employment and support allowance tribunals.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to Question 229226. The Department’s main objective is to ensure that Presenting Officers (POs) attend hearings of those complex cases where their presence will be of most benefit to the tribunal in reaching the right decision. The 50% attendance figure was an aspiration based on a set of assumptions made when the Department originally began recruiting additional POs. As POs became established their remit adapted to focus on complex cases; but they also needed to be trained in presenting Universal Credit work capability assessment appeals, as the replacement for ESA. So whilst the initial aspiration has not been met, critically PO attendance for these types of cases has nevertheless been high and will continue to be so in the future.

Universal Credit: Part-time Employment

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the universal credit hotline advises claimants who work part-time that taking their entitlement to paid leave will affect their right to universal credit.

Alok Sharma: Universal Credit is calculated using earnings, either full or part time. It does not matter how many hours a claimant works, it is the actual earnings they receive and are reported in an assessment period that count. This would include earnings from paid leave such as holidays.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will set out the average time (a) taken to process mandatory reconsiderations and (b) between a mandatory reconsideration decision and a tribunal, in each of the last three years for which data are available.

Justin Tomlinson: Information on median clearance times for PIP Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) is provided in the table below.Median Clearance Times, in Calendar Days, for PIP MRs, Normal Rules, Great Britain: Financial Year of MR ClearanceMedian Calendar Days for MR to be Cleared2016/17332017/18292018/19 (April 18 – January19)37 This data on PIP MR clearance times is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision. The Department publishes quarterly statistics on “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals” which include figures on median MR clearance times, available at Table 16 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019 To provide information on MR clearance times across all other DWP administered benefits would incur disproportionate cost.There are a number of reasons for differences in clearance times between benefits. This includes the PIP clearance times being based on the clearance times from the point of registration to the date the MR was cleared. This is different to the MR clearance times for ESA which are based on the date when the Benefit Centre has decided that the MR received is a valid MR, having considered whether they can initially change the decision in the light of any new information to the date when the decision maker at the Dispute Resolution Team (DRT) has cleared and logged the final decision.  Information on the median time between a PIP MR decision and an Appeal being lodged is provided in the table below.Median Times, in Calendar Days, between a PIP MR decision and an Appeal being lodged in Great Britain: Financial Year of Appeal lodgementMedian Calendar Days between an MR Decision and an Appeal being lodged2016/17262017/18282018/19 (April – Dec18) 28 This data is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision. To provide information on the average time between an MR decision being made and appeal being lodged across all other DWP administered benefits would incur disproportionate cost. The Ministry of Justice publish statistics on the average (mean) age of a case at disposal for different benefit types. These in Tables SSCS.3 of the Main Tables, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly These statistics represent the average number of weeks from receipt in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to the final outcome within the period. It will include cases cleared at hearing and cases cleared without a hearing which include strike outs, superseded and withdrawals prior to a hearing. An appeal may not necessarily be cleared at its first hearing.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) accuracy of welfare assessments in order to reduce the number of cases going to tribunal.

Justin Tomlinson: The department is committed to ensuring individuals receive high quality, objective and accurate assessments and we aim to make the right decision first time. We continue to work extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance, training and supplier audit procedures in order to ensure the quality of the services is continuously improved. All elements of the providers’ performance are monitored including the requirements for the quality of assessments, which are assessed through independent audit, with feedback provided to the provider.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department operates a limit on the time (a) taken for mandatory reconsiderations and (b) between the conclusion of a mandatory reconsideration and the opening of a tribunal.

Justin Tomlinson: There is no prescribed time limit for clearing Mandatory Reconsiderations; the Department’s focus is on making a decision as soon as we are able to. Timings can vary depending on a number of reasons including engagement with claimants and the availability of evidence. Claimants have one month to appeal their Mandatory Reconsideration decision. If an appeal is made the Secretary of State must provide her appeal response to the Tribunals Service within 28 days. The appeal will then be listed for hearing by the Tribunals Service.

Personal Independence Payment: Dementia

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with dementia have had a personal independence payment re-assessment in each year since 2015.

Justin Tomlinson: The table below shows the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessments, comprising of award reviews and changes of circumstances reviews for claimants who had a main disabling condition of Dementia at the point a decision was made in each financial year from April 2015 to October 2018. The figures below represent the number of claims, not the number of people that have had an Award Review or Change of Circumstances Review; and shows only the first Award Review for each claim.  Table 1: Breakdown of award reviews and changes of circumstances Reviews by Financial Year for PIP claimants with Dementia. Financial YearAward ReviewChanges of CircumstancesTotal 2015/162901104002016/178002501,0502017/189603001,2702018/19*590220800Total 2,6408803,520*Covers April 2018-October 2018 only.Source: PIP ADS Notes:Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.Main disabling condition is as recorded on the PIP Computer System (PIPCS) at time of award review or change of circumstances decision. Claimants' main disabling condition may have changed since their original claim was successful. Claimants may have multiple disabling conditions in which case only the main disabling condition, as decided at assessment, is recorded.Definition of award review: The claimant reached their scheduled review date and the Department has sent them a PIP2 form (prior to 25th June 2016) or an AR1 form (post 25th June 2016). Only one Award review registration per review date is included in this data.Definition of change of circumstances: The claimant informed the Department of a change in their circumstances which may lead to a change in award. The claimant has been sent a PIP2 form (if Normal Rules).Award reviews and change of circumstances which are subsequently cancelled by the DWP are excluded.Data includes cases which were originally new claims or DLA to PIP reassessments and claims made under both Normal Rules and Special Rules for Terminally Ill people.A financial year starts on 1st April and concludes on 31st March the following calendar year.Great Britain only.This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.

Department for Work and Pensions: Consultants

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many consultants her Department has hired since 2016; and what the cost of that hiring was to the public purse.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions has spent the below amounts on Consultancy contracts since 2016, falling within the associated financial years. These figures may include other associated costs.2018/19 (to Feb): £25.0 Million *2017/18: £34.9 Million2016/17: £36.1 Million2015/16: £10.6 Million *in year spend is subject to classification and validation at year end, and then incorporation into the Department’s published accounts. Since 2016 we have been working to enable specific activities associated with DWP transformation programmes on welfare delivery and transformation of the DWP digital infrastructure, where DWP has exited long-term contracts in line with Cabinet Office directives. Each consultancy contract with a Supplier will vary in the number of consultants deployed under it, relevant to the size, scale and complexity of the work required. This will include a variety of specialist supplier staff that can be engaged on numerous projects for the Supplier at any one time. The Department does not hold information as to the total number of consultants used under these consultancy engagements.

Post Office Card Account

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the effect of the franchise of crown post offices to WHSmith on people who receive and access their welfare and pensions from a Post Office card account.

Guy Opperman: The DWP will continue to maintain Post Office card accounts until 2021 and anyone affected after this date will be able to access their money via a suitable banking product that they are able to open themselves. Most bank accounts are available over the counter at Post Office branches and supportive messages are used to signpost customers and encourage them to continue collecting their money at the Post Office. Where this is not possible, the DWP will provide a suitable replacement service after this date.The DWP has a contract in place with Post Office Limited to provide access to Post Office card accounts throughout its network of branches and ATM’s, this includes some retail outlets. The contract ensures that Post Office card account users have reasonable access to their benefit and pension payments.

Access to Work Programme: Finance

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to allocate more funding towards Access to Work.

Justin Tomlinson: ATW is demand led, so funding reflects the numbers of applicants and their needs. In 17/18 Access to Work made payments to 33,860 people (up 13% on 16/17) and £110.8m was spent on grants, which is a 4% increase in real terms expenditure compared to 16/17. The highest ever number of people with disabilities and health conditions are receiving tailored and flexible support to do their job.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Public Footpaths

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress Natural England has made on the National Trail; and what the completion date is for that project.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 12 March 2019.The correct answer should have been:

The England Coast Path (ECP) will be a 2,700 mile walking route around the coast of England. Natural England have been allocated £25.6m between 2015 and 2020 to deliver the England Coast Path. A summary of progress on each of the 16 open or approved stretches is included in Table A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. Estimated cost of establishment works and opening dates are provided where known. The ECP proposals are within scope of a European Court opinion, known colloquially as People over Wind (PoW), which was handed down in April 2018. The PoW opinion affects the way Natural England manage the impact of their proposals on sites with nature conservation designations. As such, the PoW court ruling has impacted on delivery of the path to date and will continue to have an impact moving forward. In light of this judgement and progress to date the 2020 delivery date is being reviewed. Natural England continue to work towards opening as much of the path as possible by 2020. To date the delivery programme has cost £18million. Establishment costs have been funded through grant in aid to Natural England. From 2018/19 Rural Development Programme for England funding has been available for local authorities to meet the cost of establishment.Table A - Open stretches Stretch nameOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment  Costs (Actual)Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove29/06/201220£25,000Allonby to Whitehaven11/04/201422£67,813North Gare to South Bents12/04/201434£51,306Sea Palling to Weybourne12/12/201425£64,301Brean Down to Minehead15/03/201658£381,506Camber to Folkestone19/07/201629£19,123Folkestone to Ramsgate19/07/201637£99,994Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge21/07/201668£65,221Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling24/10/201621£79,901South Bents to Amble26/07/201844£223,048  358£1,077,213 Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works Stretch nameOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment costs (Estimated)Skegness to Mablethorpe27/02/201916£80,484Newport Bridge to North GareTBC10£528,979Whitehaven to SilecroftTBC32£415,949Walney IslandTBC21£233,679Ramsgate to WhitstableTBC25£31,574Maldon to SalcottTBC27£46,099  131£1,336,764 Table C - Unopened stretches RegionOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment costs (Stretches)South WestTBC548(8)TBCWestTBC140(4)TBCSouthTBC276(7)TBCSouth EastTBC208(6)TBCEssexTBC266(8)TBCEastTBC261(7)TBCNorth EastTBC212(5)TBCNorth WestTBC302(5)TBC TBC221350TBC

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The England Coast Path (ECP) will be a 2,700 mile walking route around the coast of England. Natural England have been allocated £25.6m between 2015 and 2020 to deliver the England Coast Path. A summary of progress on each of the 16 open or approved stretches is included in Table A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. Estimated cost of establishment works and opening dates are provided where known. The ECP proposals are within scope of a European Court opinion, known colloquially as People over Wind (PoW), which was handed down in April 2018. The PoW opinion affects the way Natural England manage the impact of their proposals on sites with nature conservation designations. As such, the PoW court ruling has impacted on delivery of the path to date and will continue to have an impact moving forward. In light of this judgement and progress to date the 2020 delivery date is being reviewed. Natural England continue to work towards opening as much of the path as possible by 2020. To date the delivery programme has cost £18million. Establishment costs have been funded through grant in aid to Natural England. From 2018/19 Rural Development Programme for England funding has been available for local authorities to meet the cost of establishment.Table A - Open stretches Stretch nameOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment  Costs (Actual)Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove29/06/201220£25,000Allonby to Whitehaven11/04/201422£67,813North Gare to South Bents12/04/201434£51,306Sea Palling to Weybourne12/12/201425£64,301Brean Down to Minehead15/03/201658£381,506Camber to Folkestone19/07/201629£19,123Folkestone to Ramsgate19/07/201637£99,994Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge21/07/201668£65,221Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling24/10/201621£79,901South Bents to Amble26/07/201844£223,048  358£1,077,213 Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works Stretch nameOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment costs (Estimated)Skegness to Mablethorpe27/02/201916£80,484Newport Bridge to North GareTBC10£528,979Whitehaven to SilecroftTBC32£415,949Walney IslandTBC21£233,679Ramsgate to WhitstableTBC25£31,574Maldon to SalcottTBC27£46,099  131£1,336,764 Table C - Unopened stretches RegionOpening dateLength in MilesEstablishment costs (Stretches)South WestTBC548(8)TBCWestTBC140(4)TBCSouthTBC276(7)TBCSouth EastTBC208(6)TBCEssexTBC266(8)TBCEastTBC261(7)TBCNorth EastTBC212(5)TBCNorth WestTBC302(5)TBC TBC221350TBC

Water Companies: Standards

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with water companies on improving their performance; if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the water companies on improving their performance. In a published letter to Water UK on 31 January, the Secretary of State set out his key expectations for water companies following Ofwat’s initial assessment of business plans.

Ivory

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, what steps he is taking to help end the trade in ivory overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK Government recently brought global leaders together in London for the fourth international illegal wildlife trade (IWT) conference. It was attended by 1,300 representatives from 73 countries and over 400 charities, conservation groups and businesses. Sixty-four countries and the UK adopted the London 2018 declaration: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/declaration-london-conference-on-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-2018. This declaration includes commitments to tackle the illegal trade in ivory and to close ivory markets. We established the international Ivory Alliance 2024, which was launched at the London IWT conference and is chaired by Defra’s Secretary of State; this brings together global leaders, conservationists and public figures to close ivory markets and improve enforcement. It aims to reduce the poaching of elephants for their ivory by one third by 2020 and by two thirds by 2024, through tackling ivory demand and lobbying for domestic market closure, stronger enforcement of bans or other ivory legislation in key demand and transit markets. Through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the UK has to date provided £18.5 million to support 61 projects to combat IWT, addressing many different ways of tackling IWT such as demand reduction, strengthening enforcement and providing alternative livelihoods. This includes projects that tackle the poaching of elephants and trade in ivory. The UK Government remains committed to stopping the abhorrent illegal wildlife trade.

Disposable Wipes: Biodegradability

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ban the marketing of single-use wipes as flushable if they do not conform to the Water UK approved fine to flush standard.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the actions we will take to encourage producers to take more responsibility for the lifespan of their products and make sure these are more carefully designed with resource efficiency, and waste prevention in mind. This includes wet wipes. The Government is working with the water industry and wet wipe manufacturers to prevent wet wipes entering our waterways and damaging our marine environment. I hosted a cross industry wet wipes roundtable in November 2016, to tackle the issue of wipes being incorrectly flushed and causing sewer blockages. Following the meeting, revised wet wipe industry guidance requires a ‘Do Not Flush’ label to be displayed far more prominently on non-flushable wipes. We support the water industry’s ongoing work on their voluntary ‘Fine to Flush’ label, to ensure that any wipes which are marked as being ‘flushable’, are plastic free and are truly flushable, meaning they can enter the sewage system without causing blockages or harming the environment. We are actively encouraging the water and wet wipe industries to work together to develop an agreed ‘flushability’ standard for those wipes that are intended for disposal via toilets.

Floods: Lancashire

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent flooding incidents in Lancashire on (a) local residents, (b) roads and (c) sheep; and what measures he will put in place to reduce the risk of flooding in the future.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: On 16 March 2019 there was heavy rainfall across Lancashire, and reports of flooding to highways and alongside rivers. The Environment Agency (EA) issued flood warnings for Colne Water at Lenches, around Waterside Industrial Estate, the River Ribble at Samlesbury and Walton-le-Dale. Despite heavy rainfall affecting roads in East Lancashire and in the Ribble Valley no properties were reported as having been flooded. No road or property flooding was reported in Preston, however fire crews were called to a flooded field at Samlesbury where 170 marooned sheep were successfully rescued by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. The EA is delivering a joint capital programme with other Risk Management Authorities to better protect over 34,000 homes from flooding in Lancashire between 2015 and 2021 at an estimated cost of £100 million. This programme has already delivered better protection to nearly 28,000 homes and over 1,000 businesses. Planned future measures include the Preston South Ribble Scheme, which will improve flood mitigation to around 3,600 residential properties as well as over 300 businesses. This scheme, which is approaching the design stage, is expected to cost around £40 million and take 5-6 years to complete. Ground investigation surveys are due to start on 25 March 2019.

Litter: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fixed penalty notices for littering were issued in Havering in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra does not collect data on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for littering. The Honourable Member may want to ask Havering Council for this data.

Horses: Exports

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in EU member states on protecting the welfare of equines at border inspection posts in the event they are refused entry into the EU.

David Rutley: Member states have a duty under Regulation (EC) 1/2005 to protect the welfare of animals, including at border inspection posts.   We are discussing a range of technical and operational issues with the EU to mitigate the risk of welfare issues arising at the border.   In the event of no deal, transporters of unregistered horses must apply for a journey log in advance from the Member State at point of entry into the EU.

Flood Control: Finance

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what changes there have been in the Environment Agency flood prevention budget for rivers in each year since 2010.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the reduction has been in the end agency flood prevention budget for maintenance of existing defences since 2010.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget for the maintenance of existing defences in the end agency flood prevention budget has been in each year since 2010.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency (EA) develops flood and coastal risk management schemes where the risk is highest, wherever it is across the country. It uses a consistent set of criteria to prioritise funding for schemes which ensures a fair distribution of funding based on agreed priorities, principles and needs. It does not allocate or collate information separately for rivers or the coast. The table below shows the EA’s total capital Grant in Aid (GIA) spend on flood and coastal erosion risk management and total revenue maintenance spend in each year since 2010/11 for which data is available. Capital GIA spend includes the construction of new flood and coastal erosion schemes as well as capitalised salaries and other flood risk management activity such as mapping, modelling and flood warning. Revenue maintenance spend includes developing technology and direct maintenance work such as dredging, inspecting assets, and carrying out repairs. Included in the figures is funding to support repairs from significant flood events. Financial YearTotal FCERM Capital Grant in Aid (£m)Revenue Maintenance Allocations (£m)2010/11476- *2011/123231562012/133161702013/143631472014/155541712015/164321712016/174662142017/18449202Total3,3791,231*2010/11 revenue maintenance figure is unavailable

Bus Services: Portsmouth

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a new bus depot in Portsmouth on the the level of air pollution in the city.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government has been clear that local authorities are best placed to come up with solutions to deliver compliance of NO2 in their own areas as local knowledge is crucial in solving air pollution problems. Portsmouth City Council needs to consider measures that deliver NO2 compliance in the shortest possible time. These may include bus measures providing there is a strong, robust evidence base showing they are necessary to deliver compliance as quickly as possible. The Government is continuing to work closely with Portsmouth City Council on the development of its plans.

Flood Control: Oxfordshire

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2019 to Question 229822 on Flood Control: Oxfordshire,  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Environment Agency receives adequate funding to help prevent flooding in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government invests Flood Defence Grant in Aid where it can provide the greatest benefit to people and property at risk of flooding and coastal erosion. Funding is allocated consistently across the country and the Environment Agency (EA) works in partnership to get the best value for money from Government funding. It targets national investment to reduce the risks of flooding and coastal erosion to as many people as possible, and to get the best outcome for every pound spent. The EA works with local partners including Regional Flood and Coastal Committees to take into account local needs and opportunities when deciding where to invest. Since April 2015 the EA and its partners have spent £1.2 million to reduce flood risk in Abingdon. Some of this money has been spent on a flood wall to reduce flood risk at St. Helens Mill. Another example is the development of a plan to deploy temporary barriers to reduce the risk to over 100 properties during a flood event. The EA also undertakes maintenance on the River Stert, Radley Park Ditch, Radley Brook, Sandford Brook and the Larkhill Stream in Abingdon to help protect people and property from flooding. This includes weed cutting, bankside vegetation control, debris removal and trash screen clearance.

Home Office

Burglary: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information his Department holds on the number of incidents involving armed burglary in the London Borough of Havering in the last five years.

Mr Nick Hurd: Information about the number of firearms offences in each London Borough is not held centrally by the Home Office.Information about the number of incidents involving armed burglary is not available but the number of offences of aggravated burglary (which includes offences where a burglar enters and at the time has with him a firearm, imitation firearm, weapon of offence, or any explosive) is available.Published data for the Havering Community Safety Partnership area can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables

Emergency Calls: Hearing Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken to enable deaf people to make a 999 call to contact the police using video relay services.

Mr Nick Hurd: The handling of 999 calls is an operational matter for the police. It is for elected Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to decide how best to manage their communications and response to the public. This applies to specialist communication technologies such as video relay services and emergency SMS.The home office does not collect data on Emergency SMS calls.

Emergency Calls: Hearing Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations his Department has made to the 999 Liaison Committee on the availability for video relay services to facilitate deaf people contacting the emergency services.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of the provision of a Video Relay Service for deaf people who need to contact the emergency services using 999.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents were handled by the Emergency SMS service in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The handling of 999 calls is an operational matter for the police. It is for elected Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to decide how best to manage their communications and response to the public. This applies to specialist communication technologies such as video relay services and emergency SMS.The home office does not collect data on Emergency SMS calls.

UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the cost per minute is of telephoning UK Immigration Services from a (a) landline and (b) mobile phone.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average number of calls received by UK Immigration Services was in each of the last three years.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time was for a telephone call to UK Immigration Services in each of the last three years.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average cost of a telephone call to UK Immigration Services was, from a (a) landline, and (b) mobile phone.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the UK Immigration Services telephone line is not a free phone service.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department charges callers to the UK Immigration Services phoneline in advance of being connected to an operator.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to make the UK Immigration Services telephone service a freephone service.

Caroline Nokes: The UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) customer contact centres are in place to support customers seeking advice about making a visa related application and the options available to them based on their circumstance including navigating GOV.UK, guidance and immigration rules. The customer contact centres can also help customers to get an update on their application if this is outside of the published service standards.We constantly review the service delivery and our quality levels to ensure we are providing the right level of customer service and support to our customers.The customer contact centres services delivered by Sitel UK LTD is one of a number of information channels available to applicants. For example, customers have access to the our Gov.uk website to access all relevant information at no cost.From within the UK there is no charge for contacting UKVI by e-mail, whilst phone calls are charged at the caller’s standard network rate. Customers and agents who contact UKVI from outside the UK will be charged their standard network rate plus £1.37 per minute. A customer is only charged at the £1.37 per minute rate once they connect to an agent. We do not hold data on how a call was made (via Landline or Mobile) The table(s) below shows the calls received by the Croydon Contact Centre (CCC); these are calls from Asylum support customers, DNA hotline and sponsors / educational establishments. All other customer calls are handled by Sitel and HGS; these figures are not available as they are commercially sensitive. Also outlined below is the average call length: Average Call Length  CCCSiTelHGSOverall With HGSOverall Without HGS201803:4704:21N/A04:1904:19201703:3604:1904:0904:1104:12201604:0503:3204:1703:5103:41  Calls Received/Demand   CCCSiTelHGS  20187409420172242732016416541 The UK government believes it is right that those who use and benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution towards meeting the costs.Those who use the services from outside the UK are predominantly prospective customers and in many cases no application will be made and no application fee collectedCustomers who use the services from within the UK will often already have an immigration status with UKVI and have already paid an immigration fee. For applications made within the UK there is no charge for contacting us by e-mail, whilst phone calls are charged at the caller’s standard network rateThere are currently no plans to change the pricing structure for the current contact centre services.

Visas: Human Rights

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Home Office guidance Fee waiver: Human Rights-based and other specified applications, how many visa applications have been made in the categories (a) five-year partner and five-year parent route (ECHR Article 8 rights), (b) 10-year partner, parent or private life route (ECHR Article 8 rights), (c) extension of leave to remain where applicant was refused asylum or humanitarian protection and granted discretionary leave and (d) extension of discretionary leave for victims of trafficking or slavery, in each of the last five years.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Home Office guidance entitled Fee waiver: Human Rights-based and other specified applications, how many visa waivers have been issued in each of the last five years in the categories (a) five year partner and five year parent route (ECHR Article 8 rights), (b) ten year partner, parent or private life route (ECHR Article 8 rights), (c) extension of leave to remain where applicant was refused asylum or humanitarian protection and granted discretionary leave and (d) extension of discretionary leave for victims of trafficking or slavery, by (i) because the family is destitute and (ii) because they would be rendered destitute by payment of the fee.

Caroline Nokes: Data on the number of applications for extension of Leave to Remain in the categories requested is not published in quarterly immigration statistics. Data on the number of fee waiver applications is not captured in a form that can be reported and to provide the data requested would require individual scrutiny of all applications within the scope of the question. This would incur disproportionate cost.The department do publish the number of grants and refusals of in country leave to remain applications by category as part of the quarterly immigration statistics.This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2018/list-of-tables#extensions

Home Office: Training

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have undertaken (i) the Government's new training package on Child Rights Impact Assessment published in November 2018 and (ii) other training on conducting child rights impact assessments on developing new policy and legislation.

Caroline Nokes: The E-Learning course called Children’s Rights is available to Home Office staff. The course guides the learner through the steps of completing a child’s rights impact assessment template and helps the learner to consider the UNCRC as part of the development of policy or legislation. The latest data shows that 12 Home Office staff have taken this course up to February 2019. Data is not available for Ministers. We have no information on any other training being carried out by Home Office staff on child rights impact assessments.

Deportation: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children have been removed under immigration powers with their parents in the last 12 months; and how many of those children were British citizens.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children have been detained with their parents under immigration powers in the last 12 months; and how many of those children were British citizens.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office publish data on the number of children leaving detention by year and quarter. This shows 63 children leaving detention of which 22 were removed from the UK between January and December 2018 and confirms no children were British. (Found in the Detention Data Tables, dt_09 and dt_08 respectively).The latest available data are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending December 2018’ at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2018-data-tablesBetween August 2017 and July 2018, 478 families were returned from pre-departure accommodation. (Found in the Immigration Enforcement Data, PDA_01).This can be seen in the transparency data published on 28 February 2019:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-enforcement-data-february-2019

Passports: Fees and Charges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to remove fees for the European passport return service.

Caroline Nokes: In accordance with the powers given to Local Authorities under the well being provisions, they are able to determine what fees are appropriate in connection with the European Passport Return Service. The Home Office has no direct responsibility for determining what fees are charged in connection with this service.

Slavery: Children

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps to reduce the number of UK children involved in modern slavery cases.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Secretary regularly discusses Modern Slavery with Cabinet colleagues and the Government is committed to tackling this complex crime. The Prime Minister has convened a taskforce, of which the Home Secretary is Deputy Chair, to coordinate the response across Government and oversee this critical programme of work.

Deportation: Parents

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British children have been separated from their parents by a decision to remove their parents from the UK under immigration powers in the last 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The information is not recorded in a reportable format. I trust that my letter to you of 6 March, which addresses this issue, provides you with more detailed information.

Visas: Domestic Service

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the 2015 Review of the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, when the information sessions for people who enter the UK on the Overseas Domestic Worker visa will be implemented.

Caroline Nokes: The Government is currently running a procurement exercise to identify a provider of the information sessions for Overseas Domestic Workers. The results of this tendering exercise will be released in due course.

Visas: Domestic Service

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to change the (a) Overseas Domestic Worker visa and (b) immigration rules for entering the UK as an Overseas Domestic Worker.

Caroline Nokes: The Government keeps all of its immigration routes under regular review including the Overseas Domestic Worker visa route.

Cabinet Office

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2019 to Question 230725 on UK Membership of EU: Referendums, whether the Government has seen evidence of unsuccessful interference by the Russian government or other state actors; and how the Government defines (a) unsuccessful and (b) successful in this context.

Mr David Lidington: The Government has said previously that we have not seen evidence of successful foreigninterference in UK elections and we take any allegations of interference in UK democraticprocesses by a foreign government extremely seriously. That remains the case. We knowthat certain states routinely use disinformation and other means as a foreign policy tool,and have seen evidence of this happening elsewhere. It should therefore not surprise usthat they might try to influence democratic processes in the UK.

Cabinet Office: Disclosure of Information

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will review the reported leaking of information from Cabinet meetings to determine whether the ministerial code has been breached.

Mr David Lidington: The principle of collective agreement requires that ministers are able to express their views freely and frankly in private, and therefore any leaks from Cabinet or Cabinet Committees are taken very seriously, as are leaks of any Government information or material. If any breach is found it is dealt with under the Ministerial Code, Special Adviser Code, or Civil Service Code. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on leaks other than in exceptional circumstances when it is in the public interest to do so.

Cabinet Office: Consultants

Peter Dowd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants his Department has hired since 2016; and at what cost to the public purse.

Oliver Dowden: Details on consultancy expenditure are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts

Department for International Trade

Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Guarantees

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what proportion of UK Export Finance support was allocated to the fossil fuels sector in each year since 2010.

Graham Stuart: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 22 February 2019.The correct answer should have been:

The share of support UK Export Finance (UKEF) provided for exports relating to fossil fuels can be found in the table. FYShare of Maximum Liability which went to fossil fuel projects, %2010/1112%2011/121%2012/135%2013/1417%2014/1517%2015/1633%2016/1726%30%2017/187% UKEF publishes details of the support it provides in its Annual Report and Accounts. UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance from the private sector. UKEF supports exports in all sectors, including renewables. Its aim is only to provide support where there is a lack of private finance and its provision of support is demand-led and often counter-cyclical. The UK’s oil and gas sector is a significant contributor to the economy, but has seen low investment in recent years due to volatility in oil prices and the lack of financing needed to develop projects. UKEF has provided support for projects in developing markets, helping to improve energy affordability and accessibility.

Graham Stuart: The share of support UK Export Finance (UKEF) provided for exports relating to fossil fuels can be found in the table. FYShare of Maximum Liability which went to fossil fuel projects, %2010/1112%2011/121%2012/135%2013/1417%2014/1517%2015/1633%2016/1726%30%2017/187% UKEF publishes details of the support it provides in its Annual Report and Accounts. UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance from the private sector. UKEF supports exports in all sectors, including renewables. Its aim is only to provide support where there is a lack of private finance and its provision of support is demand-led and often counter-cyclical. The UK’s oil and gas sector is a significant contributor to the economy, but has seen low investment in recent years due to volatility in oil prices and the lack of financing needed to develop projects. UKEF has provided support for projects in developing markets, helping to improve energy affordability and accessibility.

Chevening

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many times he has used Chevening House for (a) departmental and (b) personal purposes since taking office; and if he will outline the duration of each such use.

George Hollingbery: Chevening House is not funded by the Government and is the responsibility of its trustees. The Prime Minister decides who occupies the building. It is currently shared by the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Secretary of State for International Trade. Since his appointment in July 2016, the Secretary of State for International Trade has used Chevening House on three occasions for Departmental use, as outlined below: 19th October 2017 (one day)7th June 2018 (one day)11th October 2018 (one day) The Secretary of State for International Trade has not used Chevening House for personal purposes since taking office.

Trade Agreements: NHS

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential effect of future trade deals on the NHS.

George Hollingbery: I refer the Honourable Friend for Bath to the answer I gave to the Member for Ealing, Southall on 18 March 2019, UIN: 231970.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Tourism

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase tourism in (a) coastal areas and (b) the UK.

Michael Ellis: VisitBritain and VisitEngland are responsible for promoting the UK as a tourist destination, which it does through a range of different initiatives and campaigns. VisitBritain sit on the Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum (run by the National Coastal Tourism Academy), helping to shape the Coastal Visitor Economy Vision and Action Plan. DCMS are observers at the forum. My colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also provide support and funding to coastal areas through the Coastal Communities Fund and the Coastal Revival Fund, much of which has a tourism focus. They have also set up Coastal Community Teams around the country to support the development of the coastal economy.

Telecommunications: EU Law

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to comply with Article 109, Recital 5 of the European Electronic Communications Code in relation to people whose first language is British Sign Language.

Margot James: Article 109, Subparagraph (5) of the European Electronic Communications Code states that consumers with disabilities must have an equivalent level of access to emergency services as consumers without disabilities. The Government’s position is that no steps need to be taken in order to implement this provision, as it already exists in the current EU framework (at Article 26(4) of the amended Universal Service Directive 2002/22/EC), which the UK implemented in 2011.

Technology: New Businesses

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps the Government has taken to support tech start-ups in the Midlands.

Margot James: In the Autumn Budget 2017 we announced investment of £21 million to expand Tech City UK into a nationwide network – Tech Nation – aimed at accelerating the growth of the digital tech sector across the country. The funding will help Tech Nation support 40,000 entrepreneurs and up to 4,000 start-ups as they scale their businesses across the UK. This includes Birmingham, with Tech Nation highlighting that digital tech turnover for the Midlands came in at £7.7billion in 2017. DCMS investments in the wider business environment are creating and developing the conditions for digital businesses in the Midlands to start and grow. In September 2018, the Government announced the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as the lead partner of the Urban Connected Communities (UCC) Project. This initiative will see the development of a large-scale 5G pilot across the region, with hubs in cities such as Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. The UCC project will design wireless infrastructure to deliver high quality connectivity and allow new 5G applications to be trialled in a number of sectors; allow industry to test different deployment models for 5G infrastructure and help inform the development of policy and regulation to support 5G deployment. Up to £50 million is currently available for the UCC, including £25 million of DCMS funding. DCMS are supporting the West Midlands Digital Skills Partnership which was launched in December last year. Bringing together some key regional stakeholders, supported by industry partners and Government, the West Midlands are exploring innovative ways in which to improve the talent pipeline in the region. Government further recognises that supporting digital businesses in the Midlands requires us to encourage innovation and adoption of digital tech in other sectors. The emerging West Midlands Industrial Strategy identifies exciting opportunities around data-driven health diagnostics, which will provide opportunities to test and commercialise new technologies, among wider opportunities for industrial digitisation applicable to local economic strengths. My officials also look forward to working with partners in Leicester & Leicestershire and Nottingham & Nottinghamshire in the near future, as they open discussion with Government around their Local Industrial Strategies.

European Capital of Culture

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the UK will be able to participate in the European capital of culture under the terms of the proposed EU withdrawal agreement.

Michael Ellis: DCMS officials were in regular contact with the European Commission throughout 2016 and 2017 about the European Capital of Culture competition, and were notified of the European Commission's decision to discontinue the UK’s eligibility in the competition for the next round (2020-2033). The UK is seeking an ambitious agreement on cultural cooperation with the EU as part of our future partnership as set out in the Political Declaration. The UK is continuing to explore participation in the successor to Creative Europe, which includes the European Capital of Culture Competition. Ultimately, UK participation in EU programmes and competitions is a matter for the next phase of negotiations with the EU, and details of our participation would be agreed as part of those discussions.

Internet: Regulation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the planned publication date is of the internet regulator White Paper.

Margot James: The Government's White Paper on internet safety will be published in the coming weeks.

Television: Licensing

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to retain the free TV Licence for people over 75.

Margot James: The government knows people across the country value television as a way to stay connected with the world and we that is why we have guaranteed the over 75 licence fee concession until June 2020. The BBC will take on responsibility for free licences for the over-75s from 2020 and it is right that it has consulted the public before making any decisions. We’ve been clear that we would want and expect it to continue with this important concession.

Broadband: North Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2019 to Question 232532 on Broadband: North Wales, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the progress of Local Full Fibre Networks Wave three projects in each quarter until March 2021.

Margot James: As is the case with all of our Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) projects, DCMS has assigned a Project Director to work with the Local Body project teams. The project will firstly be assured through the formal BDUK assurance process via a series of gateway review points. As the project progresses into delivery, this will be reviewed through weekly updates into the LFFN Programme Office on delivery progress, finances/grant claims, change management, and risks/issues - in line with the North Wales project consortia project plan. We use an online Portfolio Management system called Cora PPM to facilitate this. All of this is in line with our overall DCMS Governance model and includes reporting up from the LFFN Programme Board to the DCMS portfolio board which is chaired by our Permanent Secretary. Additionally LFFN is categorised as a Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) Programme and is therefore monitored by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA).

Internet: Hate Crime

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent social media companies and other online media outlets from assisting in the spreading of hate speech via their platforms.

Margot James: We will publish a joint DCMS-Home Office Online Harms White Paper in the coming weeks setting out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and setting clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep people safe.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the funding UK Community Foundation and Women’s Aid Federation of England were given from the 2017-2018 Tampon Tax Fund has been used for their own administration of those grants.

Mims Davies: In the 2018-19 round of Tampon Tax Funding, UK Community Foundations were awarded £3.4 million from the Tampon Tax Fund to run an onward grants programme across the UK, of which £219,380 has been allocated to administration. The Women’s Aid Federation of England were awarded £1,509,850 for a project addressing domestic abuse, of which £609,040 was designated for onward grants. The cost of administering these grants has not been separated from the general costs of running their programme of activities.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the criterion for the Tampon Tax Fund that the value of the grant requested in each financial year must not represent more than 50 per cent of the applicant organisation’s annual income was introduced.

Mims Davies: The criterion that the amount of grant funding a grant recipient receives per financial year should not exceed 50% of that financial year’s annual income was first included in the Guidance to Applicants to the 2017/18 Tampon Tax Fund, which was launched on 1st December 2016.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the minimum bid to apply for funding from the Tampon Tax Fund was increased to £1 million.

Mims Davies: The minimum bid to the Tampon Tax Fund was set at £1 million in December 2017, with the launch of the 2018-2019 round of funding to achieve a more cohesive and strategic approach to addressing the issues facing vulnerable and excluded women across the UK. To ensure that smaller organisations were not disadvantaged by this change we also encouraged applications from organisations whose projects included making onward grants. In March 2018, we awarded over £5 million to organisations making onward grants and as a result 498 grants have been made to small and medium sized charities.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications for funding were made to the Tampon Tax Fund in each year since 2015.

Mims Davies: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Tampon Tax Fund in the Autumn Statement 2015, granting funding to four organisations: Eve Appeal, SafeLives and Women’s Aid, and The Haven, and inviting applications for further grant funding. The number of applications made to the Tampon Tax Fund in each year are as follows: 2016 - 45 applications2017 - 850 applications2018 - 195 applications2019 - 138 applications

Charities: Investment

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of charities investing in industries that contribute to climate change.

Mims Davies: Charities can invest in a number of ways to achieve their charitable aims. Most often this involves investments that seek to achieve a financial return for the charity to spend on its aims. However increasingly, charities are adopting an ethical approach to investment, as well as making social investments which directly further their charitable aims. It is for a charity’s trustees to decide on their charity’s investment strategy, which can include adopting an ethical investment approach.

Women and Equalities

LGBT People: Human Rights

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that LGBT+ rights are protected when the UK leaves the EU.

Victoria Atkins: The UK has some of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in Europe and we will be keeping all its protections after we leave the EU. We remain committed to promoting protection and support for LGBT people in the UK and around the world; our continuing membership of the Council of Europe, the UN, the Commonwealth, the Equal Rights Coalition and the European LGBTI Focal Points Network will support us in this work.

Females: Directors

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to work with FTSE 350 companies to increase the number of women chairs.

Victoria Atkins: We are supporting the Hampton-Alexander Review, which has a target for all stakeholders to work together to increase the number of female Chairs, Senior Independent Directors and Executive Directors on FTSE 350 boards. This supports the overall target for women to hold 33% of senior leadership and board positions in the FTSE 350 by 2020.This month, the Review wrote a joint letter with the Investment Association to the 72 FTSE 350 companies with one female or less on their Board, asking them to set out how they intend to make progress.Women hold a higher percentage of senior leadership positions than ever before: 27.6% of directorships in the FTSE 350 and 30.9% of directorships in the FTSE 100. The number of female Chairs in the FTSE 350 has nearly doubled since 2015.